President Ruto announces plan to resettle squatters in Coast Region

The Government will purchase land from absentee landlords to re-settle squatters in the Coast region, President William Ruto has announced.

The President has 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.

Speaking at the funeral service of Mr Kingi’s father, Mzee Kingi Mwaruwa Mkweha, in Kamale, Magarini Constituency, Kilifi County, President Ruto stated: “We have made progress, and we now have money to pay off these absentee landlords.”

He explained that this is the first step in addressing the historical land issues that have plagued the region for centuries, leaving thousands without essential ownership documents.

“It will not be completed in one or two years, but we will deliver on our promise to largely resolve the squatter problem at the Coast,” the President assured.

Furthermore, he assured squatters in the county that the government is working to resolve ownership disputes over African Development Corporation (ADC) land in Magarini and promised that title deeds would be issued later in the year.

Also present were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Governors Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi), Issa Timamy (Lamu), and Abdulswamad Shariff (Mombasa), along with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

Next week, the President will embark on a week-long tour of development projects in the Coast counties of Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Taita-Taveta.

He reiterated his commitment to fair and equitable development across all regions of the country.

“I am committed and unapologetic in making sure that there is equity in the Republic of Kenya,” he pointed out.

He announced that all Kenyans would undergo the same vetting process for national identification documents, thereby ending decades of discrimination against those living along the country’s borders, including in Kilifi.

Regarding electricity connectivity, President Ruto revealed that Kilifi County would receive KSh2 billion from the KSh10 billion initiative launched earlier in the week to expand access to power in 14 marginalised counties.

He added that the Rabai-Bomani-Kilifi transmission line, initiated last year, is expected to be completed by June 2025.

Additionally, he reported that the Kilifi-Weru-Malindi transmission line, being constructed at a cost of KSh9 billion, is progressing well.

These two power lines will provide sufficient and reliable energy to the county, enabling industrial growth, boosting business, and creating jobs.

On infrastructure, the President noted that the KSh2.1 billion Baricho bridge, linking Malindi and Magarini, is 98 per cent complete and will be commissioned soon.

“We should all be treated equally. I am shocked that there are people who are angry at this move,” he remarked.