Mombasa County has many squatters, grifters and established con people ready to take advantage of the land issues in the port city.
Kisauni is one of the most notorious regions where you can easily lose your money by buying someone else's piece of land.
There are several reasons why you should think twice before buying land in this region. The swindlers have upped their game and anyone is at risk of being conned.
Their network is too good to be manoeuvred by a common citizen. Whether the land is genuine or a defrauding bait, you will get a title deed and assurance from some local authorities including the trusted village elders (wazee wa mtaa).
Duplication of title deeds, corrupt leadership and ignorance from some buyers are some of the factors worsening the ticking time bomb.
However, where are the responsible stakeholders? Is the land section in the County Department Land, Housing and Physical Planning functional?
"The establishment of the department Land, Housing and Physical Planning could not have come at the right time when the City of Mombasa has been grappling with critical issues of land tenure, housing and rapid urban growth. The department is charged with the mandate of overseeing land administration through policies that guide land usage in Mombasa," reads a statement on the county's Department Land, Housing and Physical Planning page.