Kwale Residents Reject New Title Deeds, Demand Larger Land Allocations

Residents in parts of Kwale County are rejecting recently issued title deeds, saying the documents recognise smaller parcels than the land they have occupied and cultivated for generations.

The objections come days after President William Ruto presided over the distribution of thousands of title deeds in the county as part of efforts to address long-running land disputes and the squatter problem along the Coast. Some residents say they were allocated plots measuring 50 by 100 feet despite having traditionally occupied much larger parcels. They argue that receiving a title deed does not resolve their concerns if the land covered by the document is smaller than the area they have historically used.

The dispute highlights challenges facing land adjudication in densely populated areas. Residents say population growth over several decades has increased pressure on available land, making allocation more difficult in settlements that have expanded significantly.

Some residents also claim that surveying and allocation exercises did not fully reflect existing patterns of occupation. They say land was measured under settlement schemes, but the resulting allocations did not match the acreage that families had cultivated and regarded as their own for many years.

The concerns extend to ownership documents that have yet to be issued. Residents claim that some people who were allocated land are still waiting for title deeds, while others who consider themselves the original owners remain without formal proof of ownership.

The controversy follows the issuance of more than 94,000 title deeds in Kwale County under a wider coastal land reform programme. During the exercise, President Ruto handed over more than 26,000 titles to residents in Lunga Lunga Constituency, covering several ranches and settlement areas.

The government has presented the programme as part of its efforts to resolve historical land disputes that have affected communities along the Coast for decades. It has also said it plans to issue hundreds of thousands more title deeds across the region before the end of the year.

President Ruto reiterated his commitment to addressing the Coast's land question during the handover, citing the distribution of title deeds as evidence of progress.

However, residents in areas affected by disputed allocations say the process must address disagreements over land size and boundaries. They have called for further intervention by national authorities, including reviews of contested allocations and fresh surveys where necessary.

Land disputes along the Coast can involve ancestry, settlement patterns, inheritance and long-term occupation. As a result, formal documentation may not settle competing claims where residents disagree over the land included in an allocation.

Residents say a lasting solution requires the government to address both the issuance of title deeds and the underlying disputes over boundaries and entitlement.