KENYA : President William Ruto has announced the government will purchase land from absentee landlords to resettle squatters at the Coast.
Speaking at the funeral of Mzee Kingi Mwaruwa Mkweha, father of Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, in Magarini Constituency, Kilifi County, the President affirmed that funds have been set aside for compensating legitimate absentee landlords.
“I have tasked Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome (Lands), Hassan Joho (Mining), and Salim Mvurya (Sports) with identifying and vetting genuine absentee landlords for compensation,” said President Ruto.
The move is part of efforts to resolve historical land injustices that have left thousands of Coast residents without land ownership documents. The President acknowledged that the process will take time but assured squatters that his administration is committed to delivering on this promise.
“It will not be completed in one or two years, but we will ensure we largely solve the squatter problem at the Coast,” he emphasized.
Additionally, he assured squatters in Kilifi that the government is working to resolve ownership disputes over African Development Corporation (ADC) land in Magarini. He confirmed that affected individuals will receive title deeds later this year.
The event was attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Governors Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi), Issa Timamy (Lamu), and Abdulswamad Shariff (Mombasa).
President Ruto also announced a week-long tour of development projects across the Coast region, covering Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Taita-Taveta counties.
