Kwale residents have raised alarm as private developers are getting title deeds for Mwakamba/Mvumoni and Diani Complex land,which is not fully adjudicated.
Residents said land adjudication began in 2016 and was not completed due to lack of funding.
Led by area committee chairman of land adjudication Khalfan Jaso, they said the private developers have been coming with fake title deeds dated 2023, claiming ownership of huge parcels.
"We are surprised the land adjudication process is yet to be completed but unknown people are coming with title deeds," he said.
Jaso said the title deeds can't be processed until the whole process is finalised and gazetted by authorities.
He said the private developers are alleging the disputed land was a scheme, yet residents have been living there since Independence.
The chairman said residents were also issued with allotment letters, awaiting processing of their own title deeds.
Jaso said the first attempt to subdivide the land to residents was done illegally by malicious people and the ongoing adjudication process was meant to correct the errors.
The chairperson termed the move by private developers generating fake title deeds as provoking and confusing.
He asked how such an injustice happened under the government's watch.
Jaso urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.
He said the government should revoke all fake title deeds and issue genuine ones to genuine claimants.
The chairman said residents are running out of patience as cases of land injustices increase in the region.
Jaso expressed fears that residents might soon take the law into their own hands if the issue isn't resolved soon.
"I am tired of telling people to keep calm yet their lands are being taken away each day," he said.
Mwakamba/Mvumoni Land Adjudication Committee vice chairman Ali Mwachausa said people claiming ownership of disputed land come from highland areas.
He said to make things worse, the land grabbers are normally accompanied by some local leaders who are aware of everything and helped by police officers who offer protection.
Mwachausa said efforts to find answers to the ongoing injustices have hit a brick wall as they are often chased away and threatened with arrest.
He said the dispute is affecting thousands of people whose ancestral lands are on the verge of disappearing.
Mwachausa said private developers have already claimed ownership of huge areas, leaving many residents homeless.
He urged the county and national governments to intervene and ensure justice prevails.
"We want to live peacefully on our ancestral lands. Let the government probe the matter and give justice to the residents," Mwachausa said.
Resident Halima Ali said she lost more than 70 acres of ancestral land to land grabbers.
She said the private developers are also salivating over the remaining piece of land and want to evict her.
Ali said when they stand up to fight against injustice, they are criminalised and nicknamed al Shabaab and called members of the separatist Mombasa Republican Council.
The woman said some of the people at the forefront of calling them names are local leaders.
She said they have no ill motive nor are they at war with the government, but fighting for rights and justice.
"We don't have any problem with anyone, what we want is our ancestral land," she said.
Resident Shaban Athman said land grabbers have made their lives miserable.
He said residents have been made squatters on their ancestral land, even after the government promised to end land injustices at the Coast.
Athman said the private developers are causing massive damage to crops and ancient trees, and even grabbing public lands.
He said the government should stop processing title deeds on disputed lands and recall the already issued ones for proper solutions.
