In 1996 the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) embarked on a "Parks beyond Parks" programme, which aimed to bring some of the benefits of wildlife tourism to the local population. Local people were... Show moreIn 1996 the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) embarked on a "Parks beyond Parks" programme, which aimed to bring some of the benefits of wildlife tourism to the local population. Local people were allowed to start tented camps and other tourist activities in areas bordering national parks. The present paper discusses the development of a new ecotourism initiative in the Selengei region, bordering Amboseli National Park, in Kajiado District. An overview of the history of wildlife conservation and tourism in Southern Kajiado District is followed by a detailed description of the Eselenkei Conservation Area initiative. The conclusion is that, although KWS presents the development of wildlife sanctuaries as a new form of "partnership" with the local Maasai population, the case of Selengei shows that in order to be truly community-based, certain conditions should be met. The benefits to be gained by the Selengei Maasai were still uncertain in 2000. Includes bibliographical references and notes. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
This chapter presents an overview of the media in Kenya as it stands today, focussing on the role of the media in the process of democratization. It first sketches the Kenyan media landscape as it... Show moreThis chapter presents an overview of the media in Kenya as it stands today, focussing on the role of the media in the process of democratization. It first sketches the Kenyan media landscape as it developed since 1902, when the first newspaper was established in the then British headquarters for East Africa, the town of Mombasa. It discusses the impact of the 1992 'liberalization' of the Kenyan media, demonstrating that in addition to growth in the number of publications and broadcast stations, a qualitative change in content is evident, particularly in the print media. However, although press freedom has improved, regulatory and policy measures affecting the media should still be characterized as restrictive. The chapter then focuses on media coverage of the 1997 elections, distinguishing between two aspects: the game of strategy, and the substance of the elections. It also pays attention to the role of journalists in the debate about the need for constitutional change and the Media Watch project, whose main objective was to monitor the State-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation radio and television during the pre-election period. Show less
The outcome of a three-day conference held at the African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, in September 1998, this book on the 1997 Kenya general elections is organized in four parts: the... Show moreThe outcome of a three-day conference held at the African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, in September 1998, this book on the 1997 Kenya general elections is organized in four parts: the direct pre-electoral background; technical and national analysis of the general elections, including the performance of the Electoral Commission, international observation, and the role of the media; regional studies focusing on the grassroots level of Kenyan politics at the Kenya Coast, among the Kenya Somali, in Ukambani, Meru and Embu, Central Province and Nairobi, and Maasailand, among the Kalenjin and the Gusii, in Luo Nyanza, and in Western Province and Trans-Nzoia district; and the Njoro and Laikipia violence in the aftermath of the elections, political developments in 1998 and 1999, and the meaning of electoral politics in Kenya. Contributors: Francis Ang'ila Aywa, Norbert Braakhuis, Marren Akatsa-Bukachi, Fran‡ois Grignon, Charles Hornsby, Joe Kadhi, Peter Mwangi Kagwanja, Karuti Kanyinga, Musambayi Katumanga, Wambui Kimathi, Herv‚ Maupeu, Alamin Mazrui, Kimani Njogu, Adams Oloo, Kenneth Ombongi, Marc-Antoine P‚rouse de Montclos, Ralph-Michael Peters, Marcel Rutten Show less
This chapter reviews Maasai politics from the beginning of the 20th century until the Kenya general elections of 29-30 December 1997. It describes Maasai politics in the colonial days (1900-1963)... Show moreThis chapter reviews Maasai politics from the beginning of the 20th century until the Kenya general elections of 29-30 December 1997. It describes Maasai politics in the colonial days (1900-1963) and in the early years after independence (1963-1983), the rise of new political leaders in Maasailand in the period 1983-1992, shifting alliances and the emergence of Maasai nationalism in the 1990s, the role of Maasai traditional leaders, and the preamble to the 1997 elections in Maasailand, particularly Kajiado District. It shows that, in the end, the power struggle among the Maasai has always been centred on safeguarding access to resources (land, water, jobs). Sections, subclans and age groups play a significant role in the outcome of this political fight. However, no easy voting lines can be pointed out, as individual interests play a major role. Multipartyism opened the eyes of many firm KANU believers in Kajiado District, when the ruling party they had supported for many years 'rigged' out their 'sons'. As a result, KANU is no longer the natural option for the Maasai electorate. However, whether the opposition will be able to consolidate its position in Maasailand remains to be seen. Bibliogr., notes, ref Show less
The outcome of a three-day conference held at the African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, in September 1998, this book on the 1997 Kenya general elections is organized in four parts: the... Show moreThe outcome of a three-day conference held at the African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, in September 1998, this book on the 1997 Kenya general elections is organized in four parts: the direct pre-electoral background; technical and national analysis of the general elections, including the performance of the Electoral Commission, international observation, and the role of the media; regional studies focusing on the grassroots level of Kenyan politics at the Kenya Coast, among the Kenya Somali, in Ukambani, Meru and Embu, Central Province and Nairobi, and Maasailand, among the Kalenjin and the Gusii, in Luo Nyanza, and in Western Province and Trans-Nzoia district; and the Njoro and Laikipia violence in the aftermath of the elections, political developments in 1998 and 1999, and the meaning of electoral politics in Kenya. Contributors: Francis Ang'ila Aywa, Norbert Braakhuis, Marren Akatsa-Bukachi, Fran†ois Grignon, Charles Hornsby, Joe Kadhi, Peter Mwangi Kagwanja, Karuti Kanyinga, Musambayi Katumanga, Wambui Kimathi, Herv‚ Maupeu, Alamin Mazrui, Kimani Njogu, Adams Oloo, Kenneth Ombongi, Marc-Antoine P‚rouse de Montclos, Ralph-Michael Peters, Marcel Rutten Show less
In deze verzamelbundel geven negen Nederlands auteurs, allen kenners van het leven in Afrika, een veelzijdig beeld van het continent, waarin nu eens niet oorlog, honger en ziekte centraal staan,... Show moreIn deze verzamelbundel geven negen Nederlands auteurs, allen kenners van het leven in Afrika, een veelzijdig beeld van het continent, waarin nu eens niet oorlog, honger en ziekte centraal staan, maar veel positiefs wordt gemeld. Met bijdragen van: Ineke van Kessel (de sociale situatie van kinderen in Afrika); Nina Tellegen (kleinschalige bedrijvigheid op het platteland van Malawi); Adri van den Berg (overlevingsstrategieën van vrouwen in Afrika); Marcel Rutten (toerisme in Afrika, met name Kenia); Ineke van Kessel (democratisering in Afrika); Meine Pieter van Dijk (de stedelijke informele sector in West-Afrika); Martin Meulenberg en Thomas Gesthuizen (de opkomst van hiphop in Afrika); Chris Reij (landbouwvernieuwing op de Afrikaanse manier); Paul Hebinck (economische en sociale gevolgen van AIDS en enkele hoopgevende signalen); Jan Abbink (jeugd en religie). De foto's in het boek zijn van fotografen uit Afrika en Nederland. Het boek is tot stand gekomen op initiatief van de Stichting Afrika-Europa 2000+, die als doel heeft de beeldvorming van Afrika positief bij te stellen. Show less
Access to land is increasingly becoming a problem in Africa as a result both of population growth and tenure reforms. The standard argument for tenure reform centres on the role of uncertainty in... Show moreAccess to land is increasingly becoming a problem in Africa as a result both of population growth and tenure reforms. The standard argument for tenure reform centres on the role of uncertainty in discouraging investment on land held without long-term security. The rationale for this 'replacement' paradigm, however, can be questioned on economic, ecological and social grounds. The history of land tenure reform in Kenya, especially that of group titles in the semiarid areas, is a case in point. The Maasai pastoralists, in particular, have lost huge amounts of land, first to the Boers and other white settlers under colonialism, and now they face an influx of agricultural groups and large-scale capitalist farmers following the individualization of land held under statutory group title in the wake of the failure of the group ranches introduced in the late 1960s. The commoditization of land and the creation of a land market have led to a rapidly growing stratification in the Maasai area. A number of lessons can be drawn from the Kenyan experience, in particular of group tenure, for land reform policy in postapartheid South Africa, viz. interventions should build on local land tenure practices; group titles can be instrumental in assisting large groups of less well-off people; and movement toward individual tenure reform should be initiated only when technical and socioeconomic conditions warrant it. Show less
