The general objective of this study is to lay out the bases for an assessment of the impact of foreign and local investment on indigenous people in East Africa. For this purpose it will explore the current and systematic practice of violations of human rights as against the obligation of states to promote and to protect human rights and to guarantee effective remedies for victims in cases where those rights have been violated under the international human rights law jurisprudence in an African context. Reveals how State sponsored investments in Maasai traditional land, particularly creation of national parks, game reserves and game controlled areas have changed the way of life of the Maasai as a “people” aggravating their marginalization. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr Lorite Alejandro of the Department of Law, American University - Cairo Egypt. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM