Kenyans Live in Slums as thousands of acres are held idle.

As the land bill passage on the minimum and maximum land approaches, Kenyans may need to look closely at how the bill will be formulated. Roughly today there are about 100 titles of private leasehold or freehold land over 500 acres. As the land bill is presented it should take into consideration Kenya is made up of 582,000 sq km or about 145,500,000 acres and this land has to sustain the 40 million people and the wildlife. The bill should answer the question of, What should be the legislation of 81,000 acres issued as private leasehold be? Will the land bill be directed toward enabling better settlements for the millions of Kenyans living in slums and as squatters with nor legal rights in the land God created them in.

Details of land as found in Internet sites

81000 ACRES MWABEJA RANCH FOR SALE

Date of inspection: The latest date of inspection for valuation was 30th August 2009

Situation: The property is situated in Taita District 30 km to the South of Mackinnon Road Township approximately 71 Km from Voi own along Mombasa road. Access is via a Murram road from Mackinon Road Township towards Kilibasi hill and trading center. Mwabeja ranch starts from the southern part of the hill.

Registered owner: The ranch is owned by a local company registered in Nairobi.

Tenure: Leasehold interest for a term of 50 years with effect from 1st may 1992 at an annual revisable ground rent of Ksh.285, 500.

Area: The parcel of land measures 32,854ha or 81,182acres

Land description: The land is generally level save for the potion near Kilibasi hill that slopes southwards. The southern parts are low lying. Soil is dark red sandy loams (Latosonic soils) low humid (0.5-1%carbon)-the soil’s horizon is barely dissembled, and overlies a dark-red weak sub-angular blocky sand loam. These are derived from the basement complex and volcanic rocks and are mainly associated with these plains that lie at 300-600m above the sea level. These soils are considered relics of a past humid climate. Rainfall: 500-700mm annual rainfall.

Altitude: the land lies at 300-400m above the sea level. Ecological potential: the land is of marginal agricultural potential, carrying as natural vegetation dry forms of woodland and “savannah” or derived semi-evergreen or deciduous bush land. Perennial grasses occur here but succumb readily to harsh management. Wildlife is important here as the land lies within the corridor of wildlife between Tsave-East national park and Shimba hill national reserve. The climate conditions are basically similar to the Tsavo game reserve which is largely semi-arid.

Developments: The ranch is basically undeveloped except for the following:- a) An abandoned airstrip to the northern part. b) Squatters’ shanties, known as Nyango village.
Settlement and Squatters Village include a primary school and a dispensary. c) An abandoned dam.

Land use: The area has plenty of Wildlife especially elephants, lions, antelopes and buffaloes. Water the land is traversed by river Mwatate has a dam at Lukatani and two boreholes.

Sale price: Kshs 12,500 per acre.

From these details it is quite obvious this land can be put to many economic uses. However who is ready to put in Kshs 1 billion and then invest any money. I wouldn't be suprised Kenyans in general being manipulated to buy sugar for Kshs 240 so the owners can be given the Kshs 1 billion.