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The Politics of Land Reform in Kenya 2012

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2014

Ambreena Manji
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Abstract:

This article provides a critique of the final stages of Kenya’s land law reform process, which has resulted in the approval of the 2012 Land Act, Land Registration Act, and National Land Commission Act. It argues that in spite of the constitutional and political importance of the new legislation, the process was marked by haste, lack of engagement by legislators, and little participation by citizens. The new laws can be viewed as a deeply disappointing outcome of a decade’s struggle over land policy. The article explores the effects of the constitutional deadlines for new legislation; the contradictory role of civil society in relation to the new laws and the bureaucratic structures they create; and the redistributive intentions and potential of the new land legislation.

Résumé:

Cet article présente une critique des dernières étapes du processus de réforme de la loi foncière du Kenya, qui a abouti à l’approbation de la Loi “Land” de 2012, de la Loi sur l’enregistrement des terres, et de la Loi sur la Commission foncière nationale. Il fait valoir que, en dépit de l’importance constitutionnelle et politique de la nouvelle législation, le processus a été marqué par la hâte, le manque d’engagement des législateurs, et une participation minimale des citoyens. Les nouvelles lois peuvent être considérées comme un résultat très décevant de la lutte en cours depuis une décennie sur la politique foncière. L’article explore les effets des délais constitutionnels sur la nouvelle législation, le rôle contradictoire de la société civile en ce qui concerne les nouvelles lois et les structures bureaucratiques qu’elles engendrent, aussi bien que les intentions et le potentiel de la nouvelle législation foncière de redistribution.

Keywords

Land lawsConstitution of Kenya 2010National Land Policy 2009civil society
Type
ARTICLES
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 57 , Issue 1 , April 2014 , pp. 115 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2014 

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