President Ruto Delivers on Promise to Restore Land Rights at the Coast

Mombasa, October 2, 2026
President William Samoei Ruto has delivered on his commitment to address the longstanding land question at the Coast, with more than 300,000 title deeds being issued across the region, including 4,360 titles for beneficiaries in Mombasa County.

The President has so far overseen the issuance of title deeds in Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Mombasa, with Tana River and Lamu scheduled to receive their titles tomorrow as the Government advances efforts to resolve longstanding land ownership challenges across the Coast.

Speaking today at the Mama Ngina Drive Grounds in Mombasa, President Ruto said his administration was committed to ensuring equality and fairness in land ownership, while protecting residents who have lived on and occupied land for many years.

The President also warned landowners against exploiting the Government’s efforts to settle squatters by demanding exorbitant sums for land.

He said the Government would not allow Kenyans to remain squatters because of inflated compensation demands.
The President said the scale of the Coast titling programme had surpassed the Government’s annual national target of 400,000 title deeds.

“Our annual target for title issuance is 400,000, meaning we have issued more than our target in the Coast alone,” he said.

He further said the Government was determined to ensure that residents who have occupied land for years are given security of tenure, while those seeking to exploit the process had been put on notice.

Lands Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome said the Government had made significant progress in addressing land ownership challenges at the Coast.

“Since 2022, the current Government has issued over 380,000 title deeds across the Coast, with a further 189,449 being issued under the ongoing Coast titling programme,” she said.

Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Generali Nixon Korir said the Government was determined to resolve the land question that had remained unresolved for decades.

“Former Governments were unable to sort this challenge, but I am glad that we are issuing 300,000 titles in the Coast region now. Surveyors and land officers are on the ground and by December we shall have surpassed the 500,000 target set for us by the President,” said PS Korir.

The title deeds issued today in Mombasa cover Block 60/Dongo Kundu, Likoni Settlement Scheme (formerly Waitiki), Mombasa Block 4 (Mafisini), Kwa Punda (Block 55), Mwakirunge 1 (Block 51), Kwa Akatsa (Block 9) and Mikindani (Block 1).

The large-scale titling programme is part of the Government’s broader effort to restore security of tenure, address historical land challenges and enable coastal residents to use land as a foundation for investment and economic empowerment.

The Government has identified the Coast land question as a priority, with the current programme covering all six coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Tana River and Lamu.
Ends