Why Kenyans May Soon Be Blocked From Building Houses in Certain Areas in the Villages

A new push in the National Assembly could soon see a radical shift in how Kenyans use land, particularly in rural areas.

Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi, on Wednesday, September 24, filed a motion that seeks to push the government to introduce a comprehensive land use policy that would zone agricultural land and separate it from areas designated for development. 

This proposal, if adopted, could block the subdivision of agricultural land for residential and commercial purposes.

Wanyonyi acknowledged the dual role of land in supporting human habitation and ensuring food production, adding that there has been more use for habitation. 

The motion also highlights statistics from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Monetary Policy Committee's Agriculture Sector Survey 2022, which estimated that the agricultural sector contributes a significant 22% directly and 27% indirectly to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

More critically, the sector is a major employer, providing livelihoods to over 40% of Kenyans.

Despite its economic and social importance, the agricultural sector is facing a severe threat. Wanyonyi's cited a Kenya Land Alliance publication, which estimated that only 17% of the country’s land is suitable for rain supported agriculture. 

The rest is classified as semi-arid or arid. This limited arable land is now under pressure from a ballooning population of 50 million Kenyans, further resulting to demand for housing. 

As a result, the policy is aimed at effectively putting a stop to the current practice of subdividing prime agricultural land into small residential plots.

"This House resolves that the Government, through the Ministry of Lands, puts in place a policy framework for effective land use in rural areas by consolidating and designating zones for built development for commercial and residential developments with shared public utilities and separate zones for agricultural use in order to arrest further diminishing of agricultural land and steady the country’s agricultural productivity," read the motion in part.

If the policy is finally developed, the move could affect many Kenyans who build homes on ancestral land in the village.

The division of family land has existed for many years; however, this tradition is now considered a threat to food security for a population of over 50 million. 

The policy would involve consolidating land and zoning it into two main zones, including zones for agricultural use (strictly reserved for farming activities) and zones for built development – set aside for residential, commercial, and public infrastructure projects.