KWALE, County—President William Ruto has stepped up efforts to address longstanding land ownership and squatter challenges at the Coast, with 94,175 title deeds set to be distributed to beneficiaries across Kwale County.
The President on Monday handed over more than 26,000 title deeds to residents during a ceremony at Kibaoni in Lunga Lunga Constituency, as he continued his development tour of the Coast region.
The documents were issued to beneficiaries from Lunga Lunga, Mwereni, Kanana, Mkono wa Ndugu, Gombato and Anzwani ranches, with the wider Kwale allocation covering Lunga Lunga, Msambweni and Kinango constituencies.
Ruto said the exercise was part of a broader programme through which his administration plans to issue 300,000 title deeds during the current Coast tour, before raising the number to 500,000 across the region by the end of the year.
The President linked the programme to his 2022 campaign promise to address the longstanding land question at the Coast, saying the latest issuance demonstrated that his administration was acting on that commitment.
“When I sought your votes in 2022, I promised that I had the answer to the land question at the Coast. You are now witnesses that we meant what we said,” he said.
Ruto said the Government had set aside KSh10 billion to purchase land from absentee landlords and facilitate the settlement of thousands of Kenyans who have occupied the land for decades without formal ownership documents.
He said adjudication of additional land was continuing, assuring Coast residents that the Government would sustain the process until the squatter problem is addressed.
The President also warned residents against individuals seeking to exploit the titling programme by demanding money from beneficiaries.
“The Government of Kenya has paid everything for you to acquire these documents. Do not be deceived or coerced by anyone into parting with money to get your title deeds,” he said.
From Kwale, Ruto proceeded to Taita-Taveta County, where he launched the construction of the KSh2.4 billion Maungu-Kasighau Road and the KSh1.5 billion Voi-Sagala Road in Voi Constituency.
The President said the Government had allocated KSh15 billion during the current financial year to upgrade roads in Taita-Taveta, describing it as the highest single allocation to the county by an administration since Independence.
He also inspected the ongoing construction of Maungu Modern Market, the 10,000-seater Vindo Stadium and the Voi Affordable Housing project.
Ruto said his administration would continue pursuing what he described as equitable development across the country, arguing that Coast residents should benefit from the same development programmes being implemented in other regions.
“Whatever development is taking place in other parts of the country, we are also implementing it here at the Coast,” he said.
The President also used the Voi stop to criticise unnamed political leaders whom he accused of encouraging younger politicians to oppose Government programmes, including affordable housing, universal healthcare and the new university funding model.
“That sponsor is egging our young leaders on, lying to them and encouraging them to oppose these programmes because he failed to implement them during his time,” he said.
The Coast tour is covering all six coastal counties and combines the issuance of title deeds with the launch and inspection of roads, markets, housing, education and other development projects. The wider regional titling programme is targeting nearly 190,000 title deeds in the current phase.
The Kwale and Taita-Taveta functions were attended by Governors Fatuma Achani and Andrew Mwadime, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Principal Secretaries, MPs and MCAs, among other leaders.
