Three years after the 2022 General Election, William Ruto has yet to resolve the long-standing land dispute in the Coastal region, despite promising to do so during his campaign while seeking votes from residents.
During the campaign period, the President pledged to address historical land injustices, including allocating funds to buy land from absentee landlords and redistribute it to squatters, granting them title deeds.
He appointed key Coastal leaders, including Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, and Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, to identify and engage landowners regarding the issue.
However, three years later, little progress has been made, with squatters continuing to live in fear of eviction while awaiting a solution from the President.
CSs Joho and Mvurya, alongside Speaker Kingi, who were tasked with identifying and investigating the landowners, have continued to speak about how the President plans to address the historical problem, even as only 16 months remain before the next general election.
Last year, during the funeral of Speaker Kingi’s father, Mzee Kingi Mwaruwa Mkweha, in Kamale, Magarini, President Ruto said his government had made progress in addressing land challenges.
The government allocated KSh 3.8 billion to purchase land from absentee landlords.
“We have made progress and now have funds to compensate non-resident landowners,” said President Ruto, noting that this was the beginning of resolving land issues that have persisted for centuries and left thousands without title deeds.
“It will not be completed in one or two years, but we will fulfill our promise to substantially address the squatter problem at the Coast,” he explained.
Speaking to residents of Ganze last week, Kingi urged Coastal residents to re-elect President Ruto in the 2027 general election so he can address land challenges.
“We have seen many presidents come to the Coast and tell us stories about our land—stories with no substance—deceiving us. But President Ruto came and outlined a clear plan, saying he would launch a special program to tackle this persistent land problem,” Kingi said.
The Speaker noted that during his 10 years as Kilifi governor, he frequently received reports of evictions and demolitions of homes built on disputed land.
He added that before joining the ruling UDA party, the President assured him the land issue would be fully addressed.
“I want to announce here in Ganze that the President has already held discussions with wealthy landowners who own large tracts at the Coast. They have agreed on prices. The government will buy this land and distribute it to squatters. The President has promised to restore our dignity so we are not left homeless. This is a major step that has never happened before,” Kingi said.
He emphasized that re-electing President Ruto would ensure Coastal residents regain their land.
However, civil society organizations remain skeptical. A Kenya Land Alliance official, Nagib Shamsan, said they are still waiting for the President to fulfill his promise before the general election.
“As indigenous residents, we are concerned that since the promise was made, nothing has been implemented. As we approach the general election, will presidential candidates once again use land issues as bait to win over voters?” Shamsan asked.
Historical land injustices, evictions, and the squatter problem have remained a persistent issue at the Coast for decades, often exploited by politicians during campaigns.
Although Coastal leaders have praised the initiative, saying the President will resolve these challenges, many residents remain cautious.
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