A tiny fraction of Kenya's population controls the majority of its most productive agricultural land, much of it acquired irregularly and lying idle, a damning new report has revealed.

The findings, detailed in the "Who Owns Kenya?" report by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), expose a stark reality: this deep-rooted land inequality is a primary driver of the nation's food insecurity and economic distress, directly impacting the daily struggle of ordinary Kenyans to put food on the table.

A System of Stark Contrasts

The report paints a picture of a nation divided. While agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya's economy, contributing over $26.58 billion (approx. KES 3.4 trillion) to its GDP, the beneficiaries are a small elite. This concentration of ownership has created a precarious situation for the vast majority of citizens.

The KHRC's investigation lays out the imbalance with startling clarity:

• Less than 2% of the population holds more than half of all arable land.
• A minuscule 0.1% of large-scale landholders control a staggering 39% of the total land under cultivation, with farms averaging 77.8 hectares.
• In stark contrast, 98% of Kenyans hold farm plots averaging just 1.2 hectares, collectively occupying only 46% of the country's farmed land.

This gross disparity, the report warns, suppresses agricultural productivity and locks millions of young people and smallholders out of opportunities to build wealth or access credit. The direct consequence is a nation struggling with hunger, with the KHRC noting that 2.2 million Kenyans currently face acute food insecurity.

The Roots of a Modern Crisis

This inequality is not a recent phenomenon but the bitter legacy of historical injustices. The report traces the problem back to colonial-era land policies that dispossessed local communities, a system that was unfortunately adopted and expanded after independence. Post-independence governments, it is alleged, often used land to reward political loyalty, leading to the irregular allocation of public lands, including forests, settlement schemes, and even parcels belonging to schools and hospitals.

The impact is felt most acutely in regions like the Coast. In Kilifi, Kwale, and Lamu counties, over 65% of residents lack formal land titles, effectively making them squatters on their ancestral lands. This lack of security perpetuates a cycle of poverty, with these counties consistently lagging in health, education, and income indicators, as noted by the commission.

A Path Forward?

The KHRC report is not merely a diagnosis; it proposes a remedy. A key recommendation is the implementation of a progressive land value tax to discourage the hoarding of large, idle tracts of land for speculative purposes. Proponents argue that such a tax could curb speculative behaviour, encourage productive land use, and generate substantial revenue for public services. The commission estimates a well-structured land value tax could raise up to KES 125 billion, potentially doubling the funds available for social protection programs.

As Kenya confronts this deeply entrenched challenge, the question of who owns the land is fundamentally a question of the nation's future. Addressing this historic imbalance is not just about correcting past wrongs, but about unlocking the potential for a more equitable and food-secure future for all Kenyans.