Enthusiasm as EAC partners begin to share best practices on land governance
People protesting against alleged grabbing in Kenya’s Elgeyo Marakwet County. Discussing matters land in the East African Community has been difficult because land, its policies and laws, aren’t easy to agree on. PHOTO | FILE | NMG
Discussing matters land in the East African Community has been difficult because land, its policies and laws, aren’t easy to agree on. They are jurisdiction-specific. What works in one country may be inapplicable in another. Indeed, the Protocol on the establishment of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market is explicit on matters land.
The Common Market Protocol provides for the free movement of goods, persons, labour, services and capital. It also provides for the rights of establishment and the rights of residence of EAC citizens. Article 15 of this protocol is on access to and use of land and premises. It tersely provides that Partner States are agreed that access to and use of land and premises shall be governed by the national policies and laws of the Partner States. This, therefore, limits the depth of discussions on matters land within the Community.
