How Officialising Private Land Ownership Contributed to Land-grabbing in Kenya

The vernacular meaning of land-grabbing in Kenya stresses the role played by State land thefts, reminding us that, historically, state power was built up through control over land. Accusations grabbing also convey territorial representations ethnic and national belonging, anchoring legitimacy ownership. We focus on actors scales involved officialising private ownership to highlight institutionally-rooted strategies contrasting formalisations. relate these “national” “ethnic” sovereignty. Case studies help understand local transformation ramifications whether with regard large-scale international acquisitions or domestic grabbing.