History of Embakasi Ranching Company in Nairobi City
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HISTORY OF EMBAKASI RANCHING COMPANY IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA, 1963-2013 BY KIBANYA ELIZABETH GATHIGIA C50/CE/22903/2012 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (HISTORY) OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY SEPTEMBER 2020 ` DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and to the best of my knowledge has not been presented for a degree in any other university. Name: KIBANYA ELIZABETH GATHIGIA C50/CE/22903 /2012. Signature: ____________________________ Date: ________________________________ This thesis has been submitted with our approval as the University supervisors 1. Dr. PIUS KAKAI Signature: ------------------------------------ Date ------------------------------------ 2. Dr. FELIX KIRUTHU Signature: --------------------------------------- Date: ------------------------------------ i ` DEDICATION This research is dedicated to my late Dad, James Kibanya Gachemi. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am grateful to the Almighty God for enabling me to finish this work. Although the work took longer than anticipated the realisation of the goal was the most important thing. It is not possible to fully express my gratitude to all those who supported me in realisation of this dream. Special gratitude goes to Kenyatta University and especially the Department of History, Archaeology and Political Studies. The Department provided all the necessary materials that were required in this study. Through the chairman and the secretary of the Department, I was able to access the scholarly work in the department. For my supervisors, Dr. Pius Kakai and Dr. Felix Kiruthu, I have no proper words to express my gratitude to your immeasurable support in this work. You were always available to give the professional guidance. At times I called on your office at odd times like lunch break and early in the morning and you never turned me away. Your positive criticism and suggestions on areas to focus on went a long way in improving this work. Special thanks to my employer Teachers Service Commission for granting me three months study leave so as to fast track the collection and analysing of data which was behind schedule. Muhuri Muchiri Secondary community especially the humanities department was equally supportive to me. Without this support the work could have taken longer to complete. iii My friends and classmates like Jane Ndung’u, Grace Ndegwa and the masters class of year 2013, thank you for keeping the fire burning. I wish to thank you for encouraging me to soldier on and never to give up. The informants in this study cannot be forgotten. The vital information that they provided shaped the outcome of this study. Special appreciation goes to the late Jane Nyambura who was among the first informant to be interviewed and referred me to others and even provided some documents to substantiate her information. Joakino Mukanda was equally instrumental in this study as he went to an extent of sharing some documents that were used to authenticate the data collected from other informants. Joakino was slightly unwell during the interview but was so much willing to share his story of Embakasi Ranching Company. The late chairman of Embakasi Ranching Samuel Mwangi Thuita also provided vital details on the founders of the company. For my family, receive my sincere gratitude. Special gratitude goes to my husband Charles for being there for the children as I spent many days in the Kenya National Archives and the library. Thank you for your constant reminder that I need to go an extra mile to finish this work. My children Brenda and Mercy thank you for your encouragement and understanding throughout the process. I wish to thank my mother Isabel who kept on asking about the progress of my study. Your prayers mum, have been answered with the completion of this work. I also wish to thank Elijah Mugendi my research assistant for his tireless effort and dedication in escorting me to various places to do interviews. My appreciation also goes to Johnson Abuko for typing this work neatly and promptly. For all these people and others, may God bless you abundantly. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION................................................................................................... i DEDICATION...................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................. iii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ............................................................ x DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL TERMS .................................................. xi ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... xiii 1.0 CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background of the study ............................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem .............................................................................. 5 1.3 Objectives of the study ................................................................................... 5 1.4 Research Questions ........................................................................................ 6 1.5 Research assumptions .................................................................................... 6 1.6 Justification and Significance of the Study .................................................. 6 1.7 Scope of the Study .......................................................................................... 8 1.8 Limitations of the Study ................................................................................ 8 1.9 Literature review ........................................................................................... 9 1. 9.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 9 1.9.2 Review of related literature...................................................................... 10 1.9.3 Summary of gaps in reviewed literature ................................................. 16 1.9.4 Theoretical framework ............................................................................. 18 1.9.5 Neopatrimonialism theory ........................................................................ 18 1.9.5 Methodology .............................................................................................. 22 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 22 Research Design ................................................................................................. 22 Site of the study .................................................................................................. 22 Target population............................................................................................... 22 Sampling procedure ........................................................................................... 22 Sample size .......................................................................................................... 23 Methods of data collection................................................................................. 23 Data analysis ....................................................................................................... 25 Ethical considerations ........................................................................................ 25 2.00: CHAPTER 2 .............................................................................................. 26 v FORMATION OF LAND BUYING COMPANIES IN KENYA FROM 1963- 1978 ........................................................................................................... 26 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 26 2.2 The colonial land policies and the land question in Kenya: 1896 to 1945...................................................................................................................... 26 2.3 The land question from 1946-1953 ............................................................. 30 2.4 The Swynnerton plan of 1954 and its effects on distribution of land in Kenya. ................................................................................................................. 35 2.6 Development of the settlement schemes from 1963 .................................. 45 2.7 Political independence and formation of land buying companies: 1963-1978 ............................................................................................................ 54 3.0. CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................... 63 THE EXPANSION OF NAIROBI AND DEVELOPMENT OF EMBAKASI RANCHING COMPANY FROM 1979 TO 2002 ..................... 63 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 63 3.2. Expansion of Nairobi and land buying companies’ policies from 1979 to 2002 ................................................................................................................. 63 3.3 The formation of Embakasi Ranching Company ..................................... 67 3.4 The development of