Focus on Africa: Kenya Lesson Brief, History of Land Conflicts

This lesson brief explores the history of land conflicts in Kenya. It is part of the Focus on Africa: Land Tenure and Property Rights online educational tool. Kenya drew international attention in 2007 when widespread violence broke out following presidential elections, resulting in the death of 1,300 people and the displacement of as many as 600,000 individuals. Much of the violence was linked to long-standing land disputes. Kenya has endured a long history of land conflicts, dating back to its colonial period when first the Germans and then the British promulgated policies and practices that alienated people from their customary land and pitted one ethnic group against another. These policies were extended after independence. Ethnic divisions especially over traditional land were exploited for short-term political ends. Kenya’s new Constitution of 2010, however, provides hope that some historical injustices will be addressed.