Kenyan President William Ruto is set to kick off a multi-county development tour of the Coast region on Saturday, covering six counties. The tour, which will take in Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River, and Lamu counties, aims to assess progress on government projects, meet residents, and discuss development needs. During the tour, Ruto's administration plans to distribute nearly 200,000 title deeds and lay the foundation for a massive new petroleum refinery in Lamu County.
The land distribution exercise is part of a broader government target to issue 500,000 title deeds nationally, aimed at resolving long-running land disputes and squatter challenges that have persisted in the Coast region for generations. Formal ownership documents are expected to give beneficiaries greater economic leverage over their land. In Taita-Taveta, 31,318 title deeds will be distributed to residents of Mwatate and Voi constituencies, while Kwale County will receive 94,175 title deeds for residents in Lunga Lunga, Msambweni, and Kinango constituencies.
Kilifi County is next on the tour itinerary, with 36,826 title deeds earmarked for residents of Kaloleni, Rabai, Ganze, Kilifi South, and Malindi constituencies. Mombasa County will receive 4,360 title deeds, while Lamu and Tana River counties will share a further 22,770 documents between them. For many recipients, the documents represent the end of years of uncertainty over land they have occupied but never formally owned.
The most significant economic announcement of the tour is the groundbreaking for the East Africa Refinery in Lamu, a KSh 2 trillion joint venture between the Kenyan government and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote. The facility is designed to process crude oil from the Lokichar fields in Turkana County and supply refined petroleum products to markets across East and Central Africa.
State House said the refinery is projected to create more than 500,000 jobs and strengthen Kenya's energy security by ensuring a stable domestic supply of petroleum products. The project is expected to have a significant impact on the region's economy and provide a boost to Kenya's energy sector.
Beyond the title deed ceremonies and the refinery launch, President Ruto is also scheduled to commission completed projects, inspect work under way, and launch new initiatives across all six counties during the tour. The tour is expected to provide a platform for Ruto to engage with residents and local leaders, addressing their concerns and outlining the government's development plans for the region.
The tour comes after Ruto's attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in the US, where he likely discussed global issues and Kenya's role in international affairs. The president's visit to the Coast region is seen as a significant development in his administration's efforts to promote economic growth and improve the lives of Kenyan citizens.
Key points
- President William Ruto to distribute nearly 200,000 title deeds across six Coast counties.
- The East Africa Refinery in Lamu is a KSh 2 trillion joint venture with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote.
- The refinery is projected to create more than 500,000 jobs and strengthen Kenya's energy security.
