Inheriting the family farm: Generational wealth transfers in rural Kenya

Abstract

Motivation: Intergenerational wealth transfers are economically important and have direct consequences on the distribution—or redistribution—of household and community wealth. In sub-Saharan Africa, documented instances of weakly enforced statutory laws and outdated or misaligned customary laws create a space for practices that undermine the fair and smooth transition of wealth across generations. Purpose: This study presents data drawn from a larger mixed-methods study that evaluated a succession (inheritance) curriculum offered in a farming community in Kenya. Approach and Methods: A sub-set of intervention participants (n = 58) ranging in age from 20 to 78 were invited to participate in post-test focus group discussions. Discussions followed a semi-structured interview guide and included questions that evaluated the succession curriculum. Findings: In addition to evaluating the intervention, emerging conversations centred on the economic and sociocultural significance of intergenerationally held family wealth. The narrative from these focus groups underscores the importance the community places on family-held wealth and how failures in the financial socialization process have compromised the generational wealth-transfer system. Further, both younger and older participants identified youth unemployment and substance misuse as factors that have led to a breakdown in the wealth-transfer process. This breakdown can and has resulted in the loss of household wealth, as well as in the marginalization of vulnerable individuals including women and children. Implications: This article concludes by identifying mutable factors that have implications for economic empowerment policies and programmes. This includes strengthening parental financial capabilities and facilitating access to legal resources to facilitate wealth transfers.