President Ruto begins Coastal tour with nearly 200,000 title deeds set for distribution

President William Ruto is set to begin a six-county tour of the Coast region on Saturday, with nearly 200,000 title deeds expected to be issued to residents as the government moves to address longstanding land ownership challenges.

The tour will take the President to Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River and Lamu, where he is expected to inspect ongoing government projects, commission completed developments and launch new initiatives.

Ruto’s first stop will be Taita-Taveta, where 31,318 title deeds will be issued to beneficiaries in Mwatate and Voi constituencies.

The President will then proceed to Kwale on Monday, with 94,175 title deeds lined up for distribution in Lunga Lunga, Msambweni and Kinango constituencies.

In Kilifi, residents in Kaloleni, Rabai, Ganze, Kilifi South and Malindi constituencies are expected to receive 36,826 title deeds, while Mombasa has been allocated 4,360 documents.

A further 22,770 title deeds will be distributed in Tana River and Lamu counties.

The exercise forms part of a wider government programme targeting 500,000 title deeds across the Coast region, with the administration saying the initiative is intended to provide residents with formal proof of land ownership and help resolve historical land-related challenges.

Lamu refinery project in focus

Beyond the land programme, the tour is expected to place a spotlight on major infrastructure and economic projects, including the proposed East Africa Refinery in Lamu.

The proposed refinery is estimated to cost US$16 billion, equivalent to about KSh2.1 trillion, and is planned as a joint venture between the Kenyan government and Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote.

The facility is expected to process crude oil from Lokichar in Turkana County and produce refined petroleum products for markets across East and Central Africa.

The government says the project will contribute to Kenya’s energy security and create more than 500,000 jobs.

During the six-county tour, President Ruto is also expected to engage residents and local leaders while assessing the progress of government projects across the region.

The Coast visit comes as the government seeks to advance major development programmes while addressing land ownership and infrastructure challenges affecting communities across the six counties.