"A long journey to the promised lands": the performance of land buying companies in Kenya a case study of Makuyu, Muranga District

Abstract

For close to a century the majority of Kenyans have lived with the problems of landlessness and unemployment. Owning a piece of land in Kenya provides self-confidence, prestige, security in cases where credit is necessary. This study begins by providing a chronological account of the historical and other factors that necessitated the formation of land buying companies which have been a subject of controversy for over a decade now. It is pointed out that the alienation of the African lands to the Europeans during the colonial era which caused a landless African class together with the individualization of land ownership have been largely responsible for the formation of these companies. The study attempted to highlight some of t.e problems experienced by land buying companies, taking Muranga District as the study area. This was done by a literature review which provided the background information on this subject and on the study. area. Several kinds of field surveys were found necessary. These included firstly, a perusal of the company files from the Registrar of Companies. Secondly, field visits to the three districts which the researcher had originally intended to cover. In these districts files of registers of land buying companies were studied to be able to identify the existing companies in each district for sampling purposes. Thirdly, two sets of questionnaires were administered to all tile commissioners were interviewed. It was found that the Government has had very little control over land buying companies. Theyh ave been left largely on their own in the management of their affairs; the result has been detrimental, most ending up messing up what they were meant to achieve due to poor management. Formed between 1963 and 1978 the majority of these companies never accomplished their mission of purchasing land and settling members thus leading members through an unnecessary long journey to the promised land. The land buying .. " did not succeed in achieving the main objective of settling their members. The main recommendations therefore emphasize on the various ways and means of overcoming problems experienced by land buying companies. Key among these is on the encouragement of land buying companies and their affiliation with the Ministry of Lands and Settlement to gain from professional expertise from ministry personnel, if they have to solve their many management problems