Mombasa governor aspirant Daniel Kitsao (Kadu Asili) has said he will advocate for land reforms in the Coast if he wins.
Kitsao said absentee landlords are to blame for most land troubles in the region.
Being a Mijikenda, he said, he understands best the community's agony in resolving land injustices.
“Under my administration, plots owned by absentee landlords will be subdivided for squatters who have occupied them for over 12 years,” he said.
The 35-year old noted that since the era of the municipal council, no local authority has vigorously fought for reforms.
“Only someone with the deep understanding of what ails the county can lead,” he said during an interview at The Star's office in Monday.
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Kitsao congratulated President Uhuru Kenyatta for partly resolving the land issue by issuing title deeds in Likoni last year.
He called for sobriety noting natives are
inches closer to owning land.
Land injustices are a thorny campaign subject for Coast residents.
The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission, that was formed after the 2007 post-poll violence, said land matters in the region were contentious.
The 1997 Kaya Bombo clashes that left 104 dead and over 130 seriously injured were linked to land tussles.
At that time, Kanu politicians used majimboism to get back at 'foreigners' who acquired large pieces of lands after independence.
According to Human Rights Watch, the trick was to incite locals to clash against upcountry fellows over alleged land grab, force the latter to flee and remain with the land.
But the aftermath was catastrophic.