Baring knew the massive deportations to the already-overcrowded reserves could only make things worse. Refusing to give more land to the Kikuyu in the reserves, which could have been seen as a concession to Mau Mau, Baring turned instead in 1953 to Roger Swynnerton, Kenya's assistant director of agriculture.: "The Swynnerton Plan was among the most comprehensive of all the post-war colonial development programmes implemented in British Africa. Largely framed prior to the declaration of the State of Emergency in 1952, but not implemented until two years later, this development is central to the story of Kenya's decolonization".. The primary goal of the Swynnerton Plan was the creation of family holdings large enough to keep families self-sufficient in food and to enable them to practise alternate husbandry, which would generate a cash income..
baring knEW The mAssiVe dePoRTatIoNS tO tHe alreAdy-oVercrOwDed REseRVeS coulD OnLY MAKe thIngs WoRSe. refuSiNG TO give moRe laND To the KIkuYU IN the REseRves, WhICh could HavE bEen Seen AS A COnCessIon tO maU maU, baRInG TurnED inSTead in 1953 To roGer SwYnneRTon, kenYa's AsSistant dIrectOr oF agrIcULture.: "tHe sWynnerton plAn wAs AMONG the MoSt COmpReHEnsive oF aLl tHe post-wAR coloniAl dEVelOpment prOgrAMMeS IMplemeNteD in BrItISH africa. laRgely frameD pRior to thE deCLaraTIon Of thE STAtE Of eMerGeNcY In 1952, but not iMPlemEnted UnTil Two yEars LATer, this deVelopmeNt iS cEntral to the sToRY of KenyA'S decOLonization".. the primAry gOal of tHE swyNNerTon plan waS thE creation of family HOlDinGs larGe enOUgH to KeEP famIlIes self-sUfficienT in Food aND To EnablE tHeM to pracTiSe alTeRnAtE huSbanDrY, whIcH wOuld gEneratE a casH iNcOme..