As thousands of Kenyan families continue to live as squatters in the motherland, few other Kenyans among them President Uhuru’s family own about half of the total arable area.
According to reports by the Kenya Land Alliance, 20% of the population own more than 65% of productive land in Kenya.
Previous reports revealed that most of the large land allocations happens during President Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi’s regimes.
Kivumbi.co.ke looks at the list of largest landowners in the country led by the Kenyatta and Moi families.
During the 2013 presidential election debate, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the total land owned by the family among them 30,000 acres of land in Taita Taveta
In a report by the CIA in 2017, it was revealed that the Kenyatta Family owns over 500,000 acres of land across Kenya.
The report showed that Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s founding president, owned about 10,000 acres spread across Kiambu and Rift Valley.
On the other hand, Mama Ngina Kenyatta was named as possessing at least 115,000 hectares (284,000 acres), including a 13,000-hectare (32,000 acres) ranch in Kiambu county.
The report further pointed out that she also owned two tea plantations at Matu and Mangu and three sisal farms near the Tanzanian border.
On numerous occasions President Uhuru has defended the family against allegations that they grabbed land across Kenya, saying they bought it genuinely from willing sellers.
2. The Moi family.
The late former President Daniel Arap Moi is the second-largest largest landowner in he acquired large tracks of land during his regime between 1978 to 2902.
The Moi family owns 20,000 acres in Bahati, Nakuru county, Kabarak – 1,600 acres, Olenguruone, Nakuru county – 20,000 acres, Molo – 20,000 acres, and Ol Pejeta – 50,000 acres.
3. Kibaki family
Retired president Mwai Kibaki who passed on recently is also among the largest owners having served in Kenyatta and Moi administrations.
Kibaki owns 20,000 acres in Nanyuki, 10,000 acres in Nakuru ranch, 1,200 acres Gingalily farm in Nakuru, 10,000 acres in Laikipia, 10,000 in Rumuruti, and 1,600 acres Rare Ranch.
4. Kuki Gallman
The Italian-Kenyan author owns 100,000 acres of land in Laikipia, popularly referred to as the Ol Ari Nyiro Ranch.
She bought the land with her husband, Paolo Gallman, in 1974. After her husband died in 1980, she converted it into a reserve.
5. Alec and Jocelyne Wildenstein
The Wildenstein, who is from France, are proud owners of the 58,000 acres of Ol Jogi Conservancy in Laikipia.
6. Late Njenga Karume
Njenga Karume owned 20,000 acres in Molo and 16,000 acres in Naivasha.
7. Late Charles Njonjo
The former powerful attorney general owns the 100,000 acres Solio Ranch.
