Land tenure and the franchise: a base for partnership in African plural societies

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Periodical article

Title:	Land tenure and the franchise: a base for partnership in African plural societies
Author:	Caroe, O.
Year:	1954
Periodical:	Journal of African Administration
Volume:	6
Pages:	152-160
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Kenya
Subjects:	land law election law
Abstract:	The evolution from tribal organisation to representation as an issue from secret ballot, and that from community landowning to individual tenure show some parallels. European government, European and Asian settlers contribute to the disintegration of tribal and corporate systems. A record of rights in native lands becomes a necessity. Ascertainement of absolute and undeniable rights however is not necessary. It suffices to record presumptory or possessory titles, till upset in court. It seems inevitable that the acquaintance with European and Asiatic land-deals must gradually guide native theory and practice towards at least some notion of ir dividual tenure. Then the changing native land tenure; must be brought into comparative relation with those ofthe settlers. In suburban areas or portions of territories with fixed and intensive cultivation and heavy pressure on the soil, the individual right to a vote would be accorded and recorded in favour of any individual who is able to establish the presumptive right to an individual tenure of land, of whether leasehold or freehold. Since the problems of land, and the challenge of the plural society are at moment most acute in Kenya, this article bears specially on that territory.