President William Ruto is set to begin a development tour of the Coast region on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The six-county tour will cover Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River, and Lamu. During the tour, Ruto will issue nearly 190,000 title deeds and launch the construction of a new refinery in Lamu. The tour aims to combine project inspections with the launch and commissioning of new developments.
A total of 189,449 title deeds are scheduled to be issued across the Coast region. The county allocations include 31,318 title deeds for Taita-Taveta, 94,175 for Kwale, 36,826 for Kilifi, 4,360 for Mombasa, and 22,770 for Lamu and Tana River. This is part of the Government's target to issue 500,000 land ownership documents across the Coast region. The Ministry of Lands has set a five-year target of issuing millions of title documents nationally.
The title deeds are expected to provide formal recognition of land ownership for thousands of households. The Government argues that issuing formal title documents will enable beneficiaries to access financing, develop property, and transfer ownership easily. The six-county programme aims to resolve outstanding land-registration and ownership issues in the region. The Coast has faced disputes and uncertainty surrounding land ownership for decades.
The most capital-intensive item on Ruto's itinerary is the proposed East Africa Refinery in Lamu. The project, backed by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, is expected to cost approximately Sh2.2 trillion. The refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and neighbouring markets. The project is expected to strengthen Kenya's position as a petroleum-processing and energy-logistics hub.
The refinery project is being presented as a major industrial bet for the region. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said the project aims to position Kenya and East Africa as a petrochemical and energy logistics centre. A 700,000-barrel-per-day facility would make the proposed plant the largest refinery in East Africa if completed at its planned capacity. The project will depend on financing, construction, and eventual operations.
Beyond the title deeds and refinery, Ruto's Coast tour will include inspections of ongoing Government projects, commissioning of completed developments, and launch of new ones. The tour will cover sectors ranging from land and housing to roads, energy, and other infrastructure. Residents waiting for title documents are expected to benefit from formal recognition of land ownership.
The impact of the title deeds and refinery projects will be significant for the Coast region. The projects are expected to improve land ownership, energy security, and economic development in the region. President Ruto's tour aims to engage residents and local leaders on regional priorities and showcase the Government's development agenda.
Key points
- President William Ruto begins a six-county Coast tour to issue title deeds and launch the Sh2 trillion Lamu Refinery project.
- The tour aims to promote land ownership and energy security in the Coast region.
- The Lamu Refinery project is expected to cost approximately Sh2.2 trillion and process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
