UASIN GISHU, Kenya — More than 120,000 residents from 19 villages in Manzini settlement scheme in Turbo Constituency have urged Parliament to fast-track issuance of land title deeds, saying decades of delays have exposed them to fraud and stalled development.
The residents made their appeal to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining during a public meeting at Manzini Junior Primary School.
The gathering brought together locals who said they have occupied the land for over 30 years after allocation by the government, but have yet to receive ownership documents.
“We have waited for three decades. I have personally stayed here for 31 years, and our song has been about title deeds. We have people who have used this issue to swindle us. We are in pain, please get us the documents to prove ownership of land so that we can also access credit services from banks and other avenues of development,” a resident representing a local church told the committee.
Residents said the lack of title deeds has limited their ability to access loans, invest in property, and secure long-term development. They also expressed concern that the uncertainty has allowed land brokers and fraudsters to exploit vulnerable families.
The committee, led by Joseph Emathe, heard that the community was settled in the area in the early 1990s, with some residents registered as far back as 1994. Locals said the matter has previously been raised at various government levels but remains unresolved.
“We have schools here, hospitals, a cultural centre, and a sub-location office. Many of our elders died looking for title deeds. Please help us get title deeds; that will give us peace and open a window for development,” residents told lawmakers.
Emathe said the committee had received a petition late last year and pledged to conclude the matter within 90 days. He added that resolving the dispute would also allow authorities to clearly demarcate forest boundaries.
“We are here to see and also listen to you. We received a petition late last year. There was another petition in 1995 that did not go through. We are committed to the recent petition, and we have 90 days to conclude this matter. We shall be tabling a report in the National Assembly after this meeting,” he said.
Area MP Janet Sitienei thanked the committee and stakeholders, including the National Lands Commission, Kenya Forest Service, and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, for engaging residents on the issue.
She said the national government had shown willingness to resolve the matter, including considering the de-gazettement of the settlement from forest land to enable the issuance of title deeds.
