On October 2, 2026, President William Ruto addressed a gathering at Mama Ngina Waterfront Grounds in Mombasa, where he issued 5,000 title deeds to residents of various settlement schemes. The title deeds were part of a larger effort to provide 300,000 ownership documents to families who have occupied land along the Coast for years without formal documentation. Ruto emphasized that the government is committed to protecting residents from eviction and ensuring they have equal rights to own land.
President Ruto criticized absentee landlords who have rejected the government's compensation proposals, demanding what he described as exorbitant sums for their land. He accused these landowners of seeking to exploit the compensation process at the expense of taxpayers. The President invited the affected landowners to negotiations on a sustainable compensation plan, but some have declined the government's terms, raising their compensation demands.
Ruto stated that the government will not be blackmailed into paying billions of shillings to absentee landlords. He questioned how much the landowners paid to acquire the land and asked them to provide receipts. The President emphasized that resolving the land question is crucial to restoring dignity to coastal residents who have lived for years without formal ownership documents.
The government's approach to resolving land ownership disputes involves acquiring land from private owners, surveying and subdividing it, and then issuing title deeds to long-term occupants. This process aims to address historical land injustices at the Coast, where large parcels of land are held by private owners, while communities occupy parts of the land without formal ownership documents.
President Ruto assured residents that they will not be evicted from their land, saying, "Not a single Kenyan will be evicted from the land they have occupied and called home." He emphasized that all Kenyans should enjoy equal rights to own land and that the government will continue to pursue a solution to historical land injustices.
The issuance of title deeds to coastal residents is part of a broader effort to address land ownership disputes in the region. The Coast has faced significant challenges related to land ownership, with many residents living without formal documentation. The government's efforts aim to provide security of tenure and promote development in the region.
President Ruto's initiative to provide title deeds to coastal residents has been seen as a step towards addressing historical land injustices and promoting land ownership. The government's commitment to protecting residents from eviction and ensuring equal rights to own land has been welcomed by many in the region.
Key points
- President Ruto says government won't pay billions to absentee landlords.
- 5,000 title deeds issued to coastal residents.
- Government pursuing sustainable compensation plan for landowners.
