President William Ruto shakes hands with Coast Leaders during his government projects inspection tour in the region.
As names were read out, smiles radiated
the faces of select Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta
residents as they gracefully received the firm, handshake grip from the equally
elated Head of State.
"Today, we are here to address the challenge of citizens who have been squatting in their land living in fear of being evicted. It is a commitment I made and it is a commitment I intend to keep," said President William Ruto.
These words renewed hope and security to many a people that have endured the colonisation first by Omani Arabs and later by the British towards the end of the 19th century.
The land question in the Coastal region has for ages remained a thorny issue since independence.
Its strange historical and legal origins without serious systematic efforts by preceding governments made it even worse.
For decades, the region has witnessed land-related violence taking away hundreds of lives and displacement of thousands others from their homes unjustifiably making them squatters.
The previous administrations failed to resolve the poignant land issue in the region, but the Kenya Kwanza Administration has undertaken to turn the tide by ensuring that the indigenous coastal people legally own their land parcels.
In its three years in office, President Ruto’s administration has seen over 381, 000 title deeds issued to land owners in an effort to resolving the long-standing land question.
This commitment was made clear on May 21, 2026 at the Mama Ngina Waterfront when residents from the six regional counties gathered to receive 33,000 title deeds from President Ruto.
The historic event unlocks investment and restores confidence in the real estate sector in the region even as some more 200,000 deeds are being processed for issuance within the next 90 days, targeting over 1 million residents.
The President emphasised that his administration was making every effort to ensure historical land injustices and ownership challenges are resolved once and for all.
"In the next 90 days an additional 200, 000 families will receive their title deeds following negotiations with absentee landlords," said President Ruto adding that his administration is resolute to finding a lasting solution to land ownership across many parts of the country and especially so, in the Coast region.
"Our goal is to ensure that residents are no longer squatters, but legitimate landowners with a place they can proudly call home. We are ending years of suffering and freeing them from the mercy of absentee landlords."
This single issuance brings top a total number of 1.5 million title deeds issued countrywide in the last three years since the President took over reins of power.
The Head of State expressed his optimism that the land issue will be dealt with conclusively as a major milestone to solving the problem of squatters in the country and thus receiving proper attention since independence.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and regional leaders commend President Ruto's commitment and effort to resolve the thorny land issue noting that the commitment restores justice, ends uncertainty and gives rightful owners the dignity they have yearned for 63 years after Independence.
“The President has demonstrated that he understands the people’s concerns and is committed to addressing the injustices that have made the region lag behind in development.
We thank President William Ruto for assisting the coastal people and Kenyans at large in resolving the age old land matter under which most people have suffered for generations,” DP Kindiki said.
Mining and blue economy cabinet secretary Hassan Joho admits that the exercise was not just about having a document it was about securing livelihoods, empowering families and unlocking economic opportunities to residents who have waited for years to own land legally and securely.
“This exercise is a major milestone to the Coastal residents as it addresses historical injustices and the deed empowers families, unlocks economic opportunities even as it acts as security for the people,” he said.
The land owners from the six counties expressed their gratitude toward President Ruto's efforts and commitment to dignify and make them.
One of them, Khadija Mohammed, 73, a resident of Changamwe, Mombasa County says her family has finally found stability after squatting on own land for over 45 years.
“I appreciate President William Ruto for making us the rightful owners of the piece of land we have lived on as squatters for the last 45 years without a legal document,’’ she says with a sigh of relief.
Dalu Nyiro a resident from Kinango, Kwale County also applauded President William Ruto’s efforts in assisting them get their title deeds.
“Am very thankful and happy to be part of the 33,025 people who have received the title deed today, we have really waited for this day to hold this document in our hands,” Nyiro said.
