LOCALS WARNED AGAINST SELL OF LAND

Kaloleni Mp Gunga Mwinga has cautioned area residents against sell off land warning that they risk being the looser as the process of getting a title deed is under way.

According to him there coastal communities have been waiting for long since independence to have title deeds to develop.

 “Now that we are on the devolved system of government I believe if we have these precious documents we will run away from poverty and all that has been a challenge to our communities at coast region. My office will be ready to provide all the necessary support to make this process a success.” Said |Gunga.

A process of land demarcation at Mbala Mwene area at Kaya Fungo, was temporarily suspended for allegations of corruption and lack of transparency in the process.

Speaking during a meeting to iron out the differences emerged from the process, kaya elders in the area called on the need to have two of their representative join the committee as demand for land has proved to be a treat to the sacred forests.

Led by Dadu Kituku, the warned that the process might have negative impact to the sacred forest a Kaya Fungo if the elders are not preserved in the committee.

“The need to quench the thirst on title deeds is a well coming event which we have been crying as coastal residents for over 50 years, but now that we see the process we should not forget that the Mijikenda have their sacred forest which need to be respected.” Noted Kituku.

According to him, only the elders are able to identify the boundaries of the forests to avoid encroaching kaya land as has been the trend over the last few years.

The demarcation process was forced to temporarily suspended two weeks ago after tension over claims of irregularity in the exercise and lack of transparency.

In a meeting at Kibao Kiche, organized by the deputy county commissioner and lands office Kilifi County, the locals blamed the committee and the demarcation officers for allegations of being involved in corruption and lack of transparency.

According to, Joseph Kitsao, the officer in charge was generating more land conflicts rather than solving the problems as no consultation and communication to some of the plots owners.

“There is no consistency and order on how the process is being carries and you cannot tell where the officer will be next day and what time. We have cases where the officer was seen at a firm at about 6am on a land which had a case yet to be solved which the plot was allocated number 370.” He said

Similar sentiment were echoed by George Kalume, who said the process was sidelining the poor as and warned that the process might not yield the required yields.

Kibao kiche have been the centre of attraction to investors due to the construction of the Mariakani to Malindi bypass through Mavueni Kilifi.

Kibao Kiche residents during a meeting to solve land problem in the area

According to Klilfi county land adjudication officer, Felix Kiteto, about 407 plots have been subdivided with 54 cases having risen from the same of which 34 have been concluded and ruling made.

The officer urged the local to be patient as they deal with their recommendation to make the exercise a success.

Kiteto, called on the local residents to iron out their differences with their neighbors to avoid conflicts in identifying boundaries of their plots adding that women also had their equal rights in land rights.

“if you do not agree at local level i might force you to go to court and table the ruling before our office to guide us on the way forward. There is need to consult the original owner of a particular plot is a plot has two or more claiming the ownership.” Adviced the officer, who promised the Mbala Mweni residents that the process which is scheduled to start from Monday 19^th after it was halted for two weeks with clear guideline and frame work on where the work will start and the official time with members informed a week before the officers visit their premises to have all players involved.

This comes as the government promise to settle squatter problem in the coast region with about 60,000 titles expected to be dispatched this month.

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