Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi said the tittle deeds being given out are part of the government plan to help address poverty by ensuring locals have land ownership documents.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Kilifi residents have been cautioned against selling their land after the government started issuing title deeds to landowners in the region.
Officials said selling the valuable resources would derail efforts to resolve the decades-old problem of squatters in the Coast.
There have been claims that some people sell their parcels immediately after getting title deeds only to end up becoming squatters.
On Friday, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi issued 867 title deeds to residents of Muyeye, Kwandomo and Kibokoni settlements in Malindi.
It was the first phase of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP), a donor-funded project under the State Department for Housing and Urban Development.
Kingi said residents should instead use the documents to seek loans from financial institutions to uplift their living standards.
On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the issuance of tittle deed in Rabai constituency and expressed his commitment to addressing the problem of squatters in the Coast.
Kingi said the tittle deeds being issued are part of the government plan to address poverty by ensuring locals have land ownership documents.
He said the county in collaboration with the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Lands were in the final stages of issuing another 2,944 title deeds in 10 settlements.
Kingi said the tittle deeds will cushion vulnerable families against evictions and ensure cohesion among communities.
“Everyone has talked about the issue of selling tittle deeds, its important to keep them well because this is a form of inheritance that can be passed to you, your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and they will enjoy the wealth,” Kingi said.
The governor was accompanied by Housing PS Charles Hinga, Magarini MP Michael Kingi, Kilifi lands executive Maureen Mwangovya and MCAs Edward Dele (Sabaki), Peter Ziro (Garashi) and David Kadenge (Malindi Town).
Kingi said his administration was keen on upgrading infrastructure to address major concerns in informal settlements including expanding the road networks, installing security lights, proper drainage and sanitation as well as waste management.
“Development cements our commitment as a county government to improve living conditions in informal settlements through infrastructure and enhancement of land ownership,” Kingi said.
Hinga said 14 counties benefited in the first phase of KISIP which was funded by the World Bank.
He said the initiative assisted interventions that improved lives and living conditions for approximately 1.4 million people in the informal settlements.
Hinja said Kilifi county benefitted from both tenure regularisation including planning, surveying and issuance of tittles and infrastructure upgrading.
“In Kilifi, we have celebrated major milestones under the project where 13 informal settlement schemes have been regularised. Of these three settlements namely Kwa Ndomo, Muyeye 1 and Kibokoni M17E have ready tittles for issuance while additional 2,944 tittles in 10 settlements are being finalised in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and will be issued soon,” the PS said.
He said those who already got their title deeds are certified landowners who can no longer be incited to cause violence.
“The tittle you are being given, please don’t sell it. Don’t sell it because the first step out of poverty begins with ownership so today you have taken a big step out of squalor and poverty because you are an owner of a piece of land,” Hinga said.
Magarini MP Michael Kingi said people should stop selling land and instead use the tittle deeds to initiate mega investments.
“I urge you my parents that you have carried gold and if you use it well, it will transform your life,” he said.
Edited by P.O
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Image: ALPHONCE GARI