Conflict over title deeds in Mombasa, Embu

Hundreds Mombasa residents climbed Nguu Tatu Hill to protest what they termed as controversial land allocation in the region.

The angry residents claimed that they were given fake title deeds, and they were not shown their land. They feared that they might be evicted and leave the land to unscrupulous developers.

Residents complained that 30 per cent of the locals were not allocated any land.

They call upon the National Government, County Government together with National Land Commission to intervene so that they may get their land.

Row over Embu title deeds

Elsewhere, Embu Majority leader Andrew Musakwa on Thursday called for a stop in the issuance of title deeds on the controversial Mwea Settlement Scheme, until pressing questions are fully addressed.

Mr Musakwa wants County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Water, Environment and Natural Resources Josephat Kithumbu summoned to the Assembly to explain the issuance of title deeds.

“There has to be an explanation as to how the beneficiaries of the land allotment process were identified, and we also want to identify any opportunistic land grabbers who may make their way into the list of beneficiaries,” said the MCA.

“Let us know when the beneficiaries will be issued with title deeds so that addressing of any underlying issues may be fast-tracked, since the process of validating ownership of land at the settlement scheme has been a lifelong dream for the locals,” he added.

“I am interested in knowing the status of the other adjudication areas namely: Karaba, Wachoro, Riakanau and Makima which are yet to be addressed,” he said.

Musakwa appealed to the county government to guarantee the assembly that the process was above-board and that there would be no queries or squabbles over underhand dealings and allocation of parcels of land.

The Lands CEC member will be the first County Cabinet Chief to be summoned to the assembly chambers to answer the questions on Tuesday next week.

By Ednah Wambui