President William Ruto promised on Wednesday to address the contentious coastal land dispute.
During the first day of his five-day tour of the coast area, the Head of State stated that the national government has already set aside Sh1 billion to purchase land from absentee landlords as part of a regional resettlement plan.
Thousands of residents on the shore are living as squatters on pieces of land whose owners are alleged to have migrated abroad or were awarded land before to Kenya’s independence.
“We have already set aside Sh1 billion in the STF (Settlement Trust Fund) that will be used to buy land from the absentee landlord so that we can resettle the landless,”
Residents in Gandini, Maunguja, Kashani, and Ugatuzi have already received eviction notices.
President Ruto has asked Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to visit the affected communities on Saturday to assist in resolving the vexing situation.
He was speaking after laying the groundwork for the Bamburi – Mwakirunge – Rabai – Kaloleni Road, which would connect Mombasa and Kilifi counties and is projected to cost Sh2 billion when completed.
