In a ceremony held on Saturday at Garsen Trading Centre in Tana River County, over 4,500 residents collected land title deeds, a move expected to transform the lives of many women and persons with disabilities who have historically been excluded from land ownership under customary practices. The event was attended by President William Ruto, senior cabinet members, and regional leaders.
The distribution of land title deeds covered residents from various areas, including Hola, Garsen, Bubesa, Galili, Kondertu, Wachakone, Chewani, and Makamburini, reflecting a county-wide rollout of the first phase of the President's land-titling initiative. According to President Ruto, the titles issued in this phase will ultimately benefit 300,000 people, with a further 200,000 slated for issuance by December.
Women and persons with disabilities were among the beneficiaries of the land title deeds. Elizabeth Balo, a 70-year-old retired teacher who lives with a disability, expressed her joy at receiving a title deed for the first time, saying it will enable her to secure loans and start a business. Juma Balesa, also a person with a disability, expressed optimism that the document will empower him economically and lift his family out of poverty.
The Lands Cabinet Secretary, Alice Wahome, noted that the title-deed programme is part of a broader investment package that includes KSh 6 billion earmarked for affordable housing and infrastructure in the county. This initiative aims to transition squatters into legal owners by compensating absentee landlords and removing bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Principal Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning Generali Nixon Korir thanked the President for keeping his promise to resolve the long-standing land-ownership problem on the Coast. He pledged to process another 200,000 titles by December, as part of the rapid-response initiative launched in May, which targets 500,000 titles across six coastal counties by year-end.
The President's land-titling initiative has been hailed as a significant step towards resolving the long-standing land-ownership problem in Tana River County. The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of many residents, especially women and persons with disabilities, who have historically been marginalized.
The event marked a significant milestone in the President's efforts to provide land title deeds to residents of Tana River County. With the distribution of over 4,500 land title deeds, the President's promise to resolve the land-ownership problem in the county is slowly becoming a reality.
Key points
- The distribution of land title deeds covered residents from various areas, including Hola, Garsen, Bubesa, Galili, Kondertu, Wachakone, Chewani, and Makamburini.
- Women and persons with disabilities were among the beneficiaries of the land title deeds.
- The President's land-titling initiative targets 500,000 titles across six coastal counties by year-end.
