President William Ruto has completed the first phase of a government programme aimed at issuing 500,000 title deeds to residents of Kenya's Coast region. The programme, launched in May, seeks to address longstanding land ownership challenges and historical injustices in the region. Ruto issued title deeds to beneficiaries in Lamu and Tana River counties, following similar exercises in Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, and Mombasa during his tour of the region.
In Lamu, Ruto issued 20,189 title deeds to beneficiaries from various villages, alongside community land certificates for communities in Rubu, Mwambore, Simambae, Mvundeni, and Ashwei. The President stated that the government had paid the full cost of surveying and processing the titles and would return to Lamu in December to issue additional ownership documents. This move is part of the government's efforts to transition residents who have lived on land without formal ownership documents into registered landowners.
The programme targets a total of 500,000 title deeds in two phases, with an additional 200,000 ownership documents expected to be issued by December. In Tana River, Ruto issued 4,500 title deeds to beneficiaries from Hola Town, Garsen Town, Bubesa, Galili, Kondertu, Wachakone, Chewani, and Makamburini. The President stated that the titles issued since Monday would benefit 300,000 people in the region.
The initiative was launched following a presidential directive in May to accelerate the resolution of land tenure challenges affecting residents of the six coastal counties. The programme seeks to address issues involving absentee landlords and bureaucratic barriers that have delayed the issuance of title deeds. Ruto has also directed that absentee landlords should not use the process to obtain what he described as unfair financial gains from the regularisation of land occupied by squatters.
Lands and Physical Planning Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome stated that the titling programme was being implemented alongside investments intended to support economic development in the region. The government has committed KSh6 billion to affordable housing in the county, alongside major infrastructure and other strategic developments. Wahome made these remarks in Mokowe during the President's tour of the region.
Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Generali Nixon Korir stated that the ministry was committed to implementing the President's directives and processing another 200,000 titles by December. Korir made these remarks in Garsen during the President's tour of the region. The titling exercise has also benefited senior political leaders from the Coast, including Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
The government plans to continue the programme in December when Ruto is expected to return to the Coast to oversee the issuance of the remaining 200,000 ownership documents. The President's tour brought together Cabinet secretaries, governors, principal secretaries, MPs, and other government officials involved in the implementation of the programme.
Key points
- President William Ruto has concluded the first phase of a government programme targeting 300,000 title deeds for residents of Kenya’s Coast region.
- The programme targets a total of 500,000 title deeds in two phases, with an additional 200,000 ownership documents expected to be issued by December.
- The government has committed KSh6 billion to affordable housing in the county, alongside major infrastructure and other strategic developments.
