Kenya Finally Lands a Land Policy: After 46 Years of Waiting, Kenya Has Finally Got It Right. or Has It? Braving Much Opposition from Interest Groups, the Kenyan Parliament Took a Cue from the Cabinet and Quietly Passed the Much-Awaited Sessional Paper No. 3 on National Land Policy in Mid-December. the Proposals Are Now the Subject of Hot Debate, Reports Wanjohi Kabukuru from Nairobi

Kabukuru, Wanjohi, New African

SESSIONAL PAPER NO. 3 (THE NATIONAL Land Policy proposals) has been hailed as a radical paradigm shift and possibly "the final blow" to colonialism". It seeks to introduce far-reaching reforms that will pave the way for the permanent resolution of Kenya's perennial land problems and redress historical injustices inherited from colonialism. It has been in the works since 2004, and it did not come easy.

Long before the policy was approved, it had attracted flak and stiff opposition from wealthy ranchers, mostly of European descent, and Kenya's political elite who occupy huge swathes of land under the much maligned 999-year leaseholds. The policy now serves as a sentinel warning to large-scale landowners in Kenya as it is sure to lead to groundbreaking changes to land usage and ownership.

Perhaps the clause that is bound to ruffle more feathers is the one noting: "To ensure that the grant of land rights to non-citizens [foreign entities and individuals] does not unduly deny citizens access to land, the government shall prohibit non-citizens from holding freehold interests in land." …

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Publication information: Article title: Kenya Finally Lands a Land Policy: After 46 Years of Waiting, Kenya Has Finally Got It Right. or Has It? Braving Much Opposition from Interest Groups, the Kenyan Parliament Took a Cue from the Cabinet and Quietly Passed the Much-Awaited Sessional Paper No. 3 on National Land Policy in Mid-December. the Proposals Are Now the Subject of Hot Debate, Reports Wanjohi Kabukuru from Nairobi. Contributors: Kabukuru, Wanjohi - Author. Magazine title: New African. Issue: 491 Publication date: January 2010. Page number: 60+. © 2005 IC Publications Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2010 Gale Group.

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