they were acquiring the land freehold under colonial law. However, the Kikuyu were allowed to believe the British were only renting the land until the Kikuyu wished to reclaim it in future, because the transaction had not followed native customs. This difference in cultural understandings of land tenure was a contributing factor in the Mau Mau Rebellion. End of reservation The reservation of the White Highlands for Europeans by administrative practice was ended by the Land Control Regulations in 1961. Extent Initially the region was not clearly defined, instead lying between two points on the railway track, namely Kiu and Fort Ternan, and later from Sultan Hamud to Kibigori. It was not until 1939 that the boundaries were defined in the 7th Schedule to The Crown Lands Ordinance under authority of the Kenya (Highlands) Order in Council, 1939. The Order also established a Highlands Board with a majority elected by the Legislative Council to advise and make recommendations on the disposal of land in the region. Today Today, the region is at the heart of Kenya's economy. It is the country's best served region by road and rail and has many flourishing cities such as Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kitale, Thika, Kericho and Nyeri. Although covering only five percent of Kenya's total land area, it produces most of Kenya's agricultural exports, particularly tea, coffee, sisal and pyrethrum. References See also East Africa Protectorate Happy Valley set Kenya Colony White people in Kenya Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron Delamere Geography of Kenya History of Kenya British Kenya East Africa Protectorate European Kenyan Central Province (Kenya) Geography of Rift Valley Province Highlands Oronyms