President William Ruto on Thursday kicked off his five-day development tour of the Coast region with a major push to resolve decades-old land ownership disputes, issuing more than 33,000 title deeds to residents across six counties.
The exercise, held at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa, targeted beneficiaries from Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale and Taita-Taveta counties — many of whom have lived for years without legal ownership of the land they occupy.
The title deeds cover parcels in Kilifi/Weru Ranch, Mwele Simakeni, Msabaha, Ka Dzandani, Wachu Kordentu and the Ronge Juu Registration Unit.
Addressing residents during the event, President Ruto said the government was determined to end the long-standing squatter problem that has affected thousands of families at the Coast for generations.
“Today, we are here to address the challenge of squatters—citizens who live in fear of eviction. It is a promise I made, and it is a promise I intend to keep,” said the president.
Ruto revealed that the government has issued 1.5 million title deeds countrywide over the past three years, with 381,000 already distributed within the Coast region alone.
He further announced that an additional 200,000 title deeds are currently being processed and are expected to be ready within the next 90 days, a move projected to benefit more than one million residents.
“One million residents will stop being squatters and become landowners,” he declared.
The president directed the Ministry of Lands to accelerate land adjudication and subdivision processes to ensure all deserving beneficiaries receive ownership documents.
He also disclosed that the government has negotiated with absentee landlords and acquired several parcels of land in an effort to settle historical land disputes and resettle affected families.
Ruto singled out the Ronge Juu settlement scheme in Taita-Taveta, noting that some families have waited nearly six decades for official recognition and ownership documents since the area was established in 1969.
As part of the broader land reform agenda, adjudication processes are ongoing in several Coast areas, including Vigurungani, Mtaa, Mazola, Chengoni, Bofu, Gandini, and Kitengwani.
The event brought together top Kenya Kwanza and ODM leaders, signalling continued political cooperation between the two sides. Among those present were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya.
Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir praised the administration’s efforts, saying no previous government had aggressively tackled the Coast region’s land question as the current administration has.
“This is not an ordinary political rally. It is about delivering on promises made to wananchi,” Nassir said.
The governor added that the cooperation between the Orange Democratic Movement and the United Democratic Alliance was helping accelerate the delivery of land titles, healthcare, and water projects in the region.
