President Uhuru Kenyatta (C) and Ruto (2ND L) when they gave out land titles in Mombasa early in the year. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
Approximately 20,000 residents in Taita Taveta County will be issued with title deeds, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
The land titles will be issued in three phases with the first group of 8,000 residents expected to receive the land ownership document early August.
The second group of 7,000 people will receive theirs in September as the remaining 5,000 wait for the issuance of the document in December.Taita Taveta has large chunks of land which are unutilized because of ownership wrangles.
The county also has large parcels of land owned by foreigners who are willing to surrender parts to locals.
“We are committed to ensuring every Kenyan owns land,” Ruto said in company of Parliament Majority Leader Aden Duale.Land ownership in Coast is one of the most emotive issues.
Local leadership accuses previous regimes of failing to issue title deeds to residents from the expansive region whose economy largely flourishes because of tourism.
In May, Governor John Mruttu accused the National Lands Commission of dragging its feet in mapping land in Taita Taveta and subsequently issuing land titles.
He spoke after 3,000 residents received title deeds courtesy of the efforts of the county government.