Cabinet approves release of 60,000 title deeds in Coast
PHOTO | FILE Assistant Land registrar Anthony Karani (left), the National Land Commission chairman Mohamed Swazuri (right) and other officials inspect files in the strong room at the Kilifi Land Registry in April. The commission has its work cut out in streamlining land ownership after a damning report by the TJRC revealed irregularities in the sector.
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the issuance of 60,000 title deeds to Coast residents in a move to address the squatter problem there.
By approving the issuance of the title deeds by the end of this month, the Cabinet was fulfilling Deputy President William Ruto’s pledge to Coast residents last weekend that Jubilee will resolve the land problem in the region “once and for all.”
Speaking in Kwale county last weekend, Mr Ruto noted that the land problem at the Coast was a campaign issue in the last general election and could have contributed to Jubilee’s poor performance there but the government was determined to resolve it.
He said that instructions had been sent to the Ministry of Lands to issue title deeds to those whose land ownership was uncontested. “We plan on issuing 1,000 this year alone,” he said.
Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, chaired by President Kenyatta also approved the establishment of a National Secretariat to organize the Kenya at 50 celebrations.
The previous committee was dissolved after it budgeted a whopping Sh2.5 billion for events marking the country’s 50th birthday.
Two weeks ago, President Kenyatta said: “By suggesting such an astronomical expenditure on celebrations, the committee clearly showed it is out of touch with reality.”
The cabinet also directed the Energy Ministry to revert to the Sh35,000 charged for connecting electricity.
It said a recent increase in the money charged had made it difficult for most Kenyans to enjoy electricity.
