Kathangachini, Tharaka Nithi, September 11, 2024
Lands CS Hon Alice Wahome today issued 19,000 title deeds to the residents of Kathangachini in Tharaka Nithi County and announced that the Government will issue 300,000 titles within the year.
The CS who was accompanied by Lands PS Hon Generali Nixon Korir said that the Ministry has embarked on an expeditious initiative to speed up the issuing of title deeds.
CS Wahome emphasized that this initiative marks a significant milestone in fulfilling Presidential Directives and the Government’s ongoing efforts to resolve historical land injustices and empower marginalized communities.
“The issuance of title deeds is crucial for fostering economic growth and social stability, particularly in rural communities like Tharaka North,” said Wahome. “Today is a historic day for the Tharaka people. We are not just handing over title deeds; we are securing futures and opening doors to prosperity.”
CS Wahome urged the residents of Tharaka North not to sell their land but to focus on developing it instead.
With land ownership now secured, Wahome encouraged the Tharaka community to leverage this opportunity to enhance agricultural productivity and other economic activities. Additionally, she called on parents to consider their daughters when sharing ancestral land, promoting gender inclusivity in land inheritance.
The Ministry of Lands has committed to continued collaboration with county governments and stakeholders to ensure that more communities across Kenya benefit from similar initiatives.
PS Nixon Korir echoed the CS’s sentiments, affirming the government’s commitment to addressing historical land injustices nationwide.
“This is just the beginning. We are ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of where they come from, has the right to own land and benefit from it,” PS Korir remarked, urging Kenyans to pray for the country and for God’s guidance in helping the President make decisions that will move the country forward.
Local leaders, including the area Member of Parliament, Murugara George Gitonga, expressed their gratitude for the issuance of title deeds, noting that it would not only resolve long-standing land disputes but also pave the way for investment and development in the region.
The Tharaka community has long struggled with land insecurity, with many residents lacking formal documentation for their ancestral lands. This lack of formal ownership has hindered their ability to engage in activities such as farming, securing loans, and other economic ventures that require proof of land ownership.
This development is part of a broader Government agenda to settle land disputes and deliver title deeds to various communities across Kenya—a key pillar of the current administration’s land reform agenda. The decision to fast-track the issuance of title deeds in Tharaka North follows years of lobbying by local leaders and human rights groups, advocating for the recognition of the community’s land rights.
Last week the CS and the PS issued 37,000 title deeds in Igembe North and Igembe South Constituencies in Meru County.
Two weeks earlier they presided over the issuing of title deeds in Narok County.
Ends.