Residents in Kwale, Kenya, have returned title deeds issued by the government, citing alleged errors in the documents and concerns about land allocation. The title deeds, issued by President William Ruto as part of efforts to address longstanding land ownership and squatter challenges, were returned by residents who claim the documents are invalid. They argue that some certificates require additional fees to be paid before they become complete, despite assurances that all charges had been paid.
The residents, from Lungalunga and other areas, claim that commercial banks have rejected the title deeds when they tried to use them to secure loans. The banks reportedly questioned the validity and value of the documents. According to John Kassim, a Lungalunga resident, the title deeds appear invalid, and they are surrendering them back to the government. The residents are calling on the government to correct the alleged errors before issuing the titles again.
The residents also questioned the size of the plots allocated to them, saying some allocations fell short of the land they had previously occupied and expected to own. Some beneficiaries reportedly received plots measuring 50 by 100 despite having occupied and cultivated much larger ancestral parcels. This has raised concerns about land subdivision, with allegations that authorities allocated some properties to several households as the population grew, leaving some original landowners without title deeds.
The disputes come after President Ruto issued more than 94,000 title deeds in Kwale County in October. The exercise included more than 26,000 documents for residents of Lunga Lunga Constituency. During the event, Ruto said the government aimed to issue 500,000 title deeds to beneficiaries across the Coast by the end of 2026, as part of efforts to resolve the region's longstanding land issues.
The residents are now calling on President Ruto to cancel the disputed certificates and return to the area to oversee the issuance of corrected title deeds. They claim that the corrected title deeds should reflect their rightful land allocations. Moses Makelele, a resident, said they had lost hope in the title deeds and expected to use them to access arrangements like loans.
The complaints follow similar concerns raised weeks ago by another group of Kwale residents, who rejected title deeds issued under the government's settlement programme. The residents raised concerns about the allocation process and the size of the plots. The government has not yet responded to the concerns raised by the residents.
The return of title deeds by Kwale residents highlights the challenges faced in implementing land reform programmes in Kenya. The government must address the concerns raised by the residents and ensure that the title deeds issued are valid and reflect the rightful land allocations. The residents' concerns will likely be taken up with the government to resolve the disputes and provide them with secure land ownership.
Key points
- President Ruto issued over 94,000 title deeds in Kwale County in October.
- Residents claim that some title deeds require additional fees to be paid before they become complete.
- The government aims to issue 500,000 title deeds to beneficiaries across the Coast by the end of 2026.
