As reported in the Daily Nationby Ibrahim Mwathane” the cabinet of the Kenyan government has recentlyapproved sweeping changes to the country’s land resource policy.  Thishopeful move” ahead of the African Union’s 13th Summit focusing on landand agriculture” has been a long time coming.  The formulation of a newland policy began in 2004 but was beleaguered by political upheavals”including a 2005 referendum and the violence following the 2007 generalelections.  Some of the key proposals in the new policy include:

•   The development of a national land-use policy to support greateragricultural production” environmental conservation” rural and urbanplanning” management of wildlife and location of industries.

•   The introduction of stakeholder and community-driven land institutionsat the national and local levels. The Ministry of Lands will handlepolicy” budgetary” monitoring and evaluation issues” while a NationalLand Commission” district and community land boards will handle servicedelivery at the national and local levels.

•    The establishment of an inventory of public land for ease of protection and management.

•    The recovery of previously irregularly allocated public land.

•   A mechanism for addressing issues relating to pastoral land” coastalregion” rights of women” children” internally displaced persons”informal settlement dwellers” the marginalized and vulnerableindividuals and groups.

The women of Kenya also stand to benefit significantly from the implementation of the new land policy.  In an article by Emeka-Mayaka Gekara“also for the Daily Nation” the inclusion of women in inheritance andproperty acquisition laws is highlighted with the most controversialarticle granting women the ability to “secure inheritance rights ofunmarried daughters in line with practices of respective communities.” The Federation of International Women Lawyers-Kenya pronounced the moveas “historic and important” and praised the Cabinet for approving a“policy that ensures equal rights to land for both men and women.”