There is a renewed hope for the land problem in Kilifi county if the recent move by both the national government and the county government to issue title deeds is anything to go by.
In last week alone, the national government in conjunction with the county government issued more than 2,000 title deeds to Rabai, Malindi and Magarini residents, a move which signaled the beginning of much more intense efforts to address this perennial land problem.
Land problem which has resulted in many people remaining squatters has led to bloodshed, loss of property and lives, and now the two governments are keen to address it.
Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Governor Amason Kingi issued more than 2,100 titles to the residents of Rabai and another 867 titles to the residents of Malindi and Magarini Sub counties.
Speaking at Kasidi Primary School in Rabai, President Kenyatta said more title deeds for Kilifi were on the way and that the head of state will return to the region in September to issue more titles to the Kilifi residents.
“We have been able to achieve this milestone because I decided to sit together with the Coast leaders including Governor Kingi to deliberate on how Coast can be liberated from this long-time land problem,” the President said in his address.
Governor Kingi said his efforts to address the squatter problem started when he came to office in 2013 and has never turned back.
The devolved government has currently done more than 30 adjudications with some already have received their titles.
“We have surveyed most of the land in the county and because of our good working relationship with the national government, we have been addressing this issue at the most opportune time,” said Governor Kingi in Rabai.
In Kilifi County the governor said between 1963 to 2012, the county had only received 52,000 title deeds but the process of title issuance has now been accelerated since President Kenyatta came into power in 2013.
“The Rabai Sub County has been whole surveyed. Apart from Muleji /Muyuni A which we are issuing title today, we have Muleji/Muyuni B, Mwele/Simakeni,
Jimba/Kaliang’ombe and Kaliang’ombe/Jimba.
Once we receive these titles then we shall have ended the land problem in Rabai and I am sure that because of our continued relationship, this will be well addressed,” the Governor said.
The Governor said in conjunction with the National Land Commission (NLC) has identified about 17 Government Land (GL) parcels with squatters living on them.
“The NLC is ready and we want them gazetted so that we can settle the people. If we act late then they will be grabbed. Please move with speed to have them
Gazetted, surveyed so that the locals can get their titles. If that happens, then we shall have addressed this issue once for all,” said the Governor.
The 867 title deeds for Malindi and Magarini were issued to residents of Muyeye, Kwa Ndomo and Kibokoni informal settlements.
The titles were issued under the first phase of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP), a donor-funded project under the State Department for Housing and Urban Development.
“This exercise further cements our commitment as a county government to improve living conditions in informal settlements through the development of infrastructure and enhancement of land ownership,” Governor Kingi said when he led the issuance exercise in Malindi town.
*This article was written by Ramadhan Kambi for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews@gmail.com for News tips and Inquiries.
