Kenya's Prospects for Development Lie in Land Reforms
Kenya might end up getting it very wrong. Recently Uganda pulled out of the Pipe
line and Rwanda may soon pull out of the Standard Gauge Railway. This will
diminish the development prospects, at least, within the northern corridor projects which
have been the hype of this government. And what is killing Kenya? Cartels and
corruption and government that is in bed with same cartels. Simple. They know
where government is going to start a project, they go purchase land along the
way and demand for unreasonable compensation. That is how the LAPSET has grounded
to its halt and many other projects will surely do. Tanzania will do all these
projects with less than half of Kenya's cost, and other countries like Rwanda
will find it reasonable dealing with Tanzania than Kenya. Tanzania has managed
land so well such that the state can have all the land it needs to develop at 0
cost. In Kenya land can take you to heaven and back. Why the heck should people
purchase land at 400 million Kenya Shillings per acre in Nairobi? Until we have
a serious conversation on land ownership, value and policies in this country
and start regulating the now out of control real estate and property
speculation which is skyrocketing land prices in Kenya, this country will only
be competing with Burundi in East Africa in two decades' time
Kenya's Prospects for Development Lie in Land Reforms
Reviewed by Ibrahim Magara
on
May 24, 2016
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