ENGLISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TAITA DISTRICT, KENYA
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1954.tb00040.x |
| Published date | 01 January 1954 |
| Date | 01 January 1954 |
| Author | M. G. Power |
28 JOURNAL OF AFRICAN ADMINISTRATION
overt expression of the prestige andlocal importance which attaches to members
of the ruling classes, andto newrecruits tothisclass, andit is, so faras I can
ascertain, the prestige which attaches to the proprietorship of large bibanja, and the
rather limited and sterile authority that their possession implies, that is the major
factor in their continued popularity, and their survival despite the Government's
attempt to eradicate them.
The
hope that at some later date full freehold rights
will be granted over bibanja now heldon certificatesof occupancy may still be a
significant factor in their popularity,
but
I do notthink that very many people
are still really hopeful that full freehold tenure will everbe admitted on this basis.
I have tried to show thispervasive, deeply-rooted and enduring, if emasculated,
"
landlordism"
as a historicalgrowth, the product of a complex offactors which
include the semi-feudal political structure of pre-European Bunyoro, the social
stratification typical of centralized social structures in general andof the inter-
lacustrine Bantu peoples in particular, andthe 1900 landsettlement in Buganda.
I have then tried to describe it,as far as theevidenceso far availableallows, in
its present-day form as a complexof rights and obligations relating to the use
and control of land.I have mentioned someways in whichthekibanja system
can be prejudicial to improved farming,
but
the consideration of the practical
means which should be taken toremedy the situation in so far as itis remediable,
important though the problem is, does notfall within the scopeof thispaper.
ENGLISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN
TAITA
DISTRICT,
KENYA
By M. G. Power, Administrative Officer.
IN
Kenya,as in other colonies,ithasfor someyearsbeen government policy
to establish local authorities in the ruralareas withconstitutions based on the
principles of Englishlocal government bodies.
Arewe justified in thinking that our English institutions are likely to suit the
demands and requirements of tropical Africa?
In
this essay I wish to examineto what extent English systems of local govern-
ment
have been introduced to the
Taita
District of Kenya,andto whatextent
their introduction has been successful.
I have deliberately narrowed my field of discussion,partly becausethefield of
my own experience is narrow, and partly becauseIbelieveitis impossible to
generalise about Africa, whichis a continent containing many tribes of different
beliefs, customs and traditions.
The Taita District.
The
Wataita live in a group of mountains, about 500 square miles in area, which
lie some 100 miles fromthecoast of East Africa.
The
total population is a litt!e
over 50,000.
The
Taita
Hills are surrounded by an arid andunproductive plaIn
ridden withtsetse fly andwild game.
This
insularity has not yet beendestroyed
by increases in communication with the outside worldandis partly
respons~ble
for thehighly developedsense of individuality whichis a marked featureof thetribe.
The
Wataita are principally cultivators
but
few of them skilled ones.In the
main their agricultural practices arc primitive, wasteful and harmful to the land.
Shifting agriculture is stillwidelypractised even in the hilly locations.
They
own many cattle.Most of their cattleare pastured in the plains b.
ut
many range the hills.Goats are numerous, and with the cattle form an essential
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