Populism will not address land question

When Sirikwa group squatters clashed with police officers during the subdivision of long disputed 24,000 acres land perceived to belong to the late Mark Too at Eldoret international airport in Uasin Gishu County on May 26, 2022. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

The presidential campaigns took an interesting turn this week when Deputy President William Ruto revived the land question, promising to settle squatters at the Coast on land owned by absentee landlords.

After signing a deal with Coast leaders led by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Dr Ruto promised to revive the 1963 one-million-acre scheme and the Africanisation policy, which will see him entice absentee landlords to relinquish their land to settle squatters or, if they refuse, take it by force.