Abstract
This article critically appraised constitutional right to land in Nigeria and Kenya. There is a
constitutional right to land in Nigeria and Kenya respectively. Therefore, every citizen of
Nigeria has the constitutional right to acquire and own land in any part of the country as
guaranteed under the provision of section 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1999 (as amended). A person can only be dispossessed of same through payment of
compensation as provided under section 44(1)(a) of the CFRN and section 29 of the Land Use
Act 1978. While there is a constitutional right to land in Kenya pursuant to article 61 of the
2010 Constitution of Kenya, an individual can be dispossessed of the land but Such acquisition
must be followed by payment of compensation which must be just and full in accordance with
the provision of Article 40(3)(b) of the same Constitution. The court is allowed to entertain
matters relating to the amount or adequacy of any compensation payable to a landowner unlike
the situation under section 47(2) of the Land Use Act 1978 of Nigeria that denies the court to
entertain such matter. The article recommended amongst others that the Land Use Act in
Nigeria be amended, making a just compensation in full to every person whose land is
acquired.