MOMBASA, Kenya — Residents of Gung’ombe area in Mwakirunge, Mombasa County, have been urged to form a representative committee to facilitate efforts aimed at resolving long-standing land ownership disputes and fast-tracking the issuance of title deeds within the next 90 days.
The appeal was made during a public engagement meeting convened by the Mombasa County Government as part of ongoing efforts to regularise land ownership and address decades of uncertainty that have left many residents without legal ownership documents.
Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Mohamed Hussein Amadoh, said securing title deeds remains the county government’s immediate priority, describing land tenure security as a critical step toward unlocking development and ending the squatter problem in the area.
“We want to sit together and subdivide the land so that everyone gets their title deed. Once you have a title deed, nobody will disturb you again. The story of squatters and landowners will come to an end,” Amadoh said.
He noted that the county government is considering additional development projects in the area, including a waste recycling facility and a Level Five hospital. However, he emphasized that resolving land ownership disputes must come first to ensure the smooth implementation of future investments.
According to Amadoh, residents can only fully benefit from development projects once they have legal ownership of the land they occupy.
Director of Surveys Rose Munupe said the county government is working closely with the National Government following a directive by President William Ruto to ensure residents across Mombasa receive title deeds within 90 days.
Munupe said officials have already begun consultations with community members and local leaders to understand the area’s history and unique land challenges before embarking on the adjudication and titling process.
“Every area has its own history and challenges. That is why we have come to engage residents first and understand the issues before beginning the exercise,” she said.
Mwakirunge MCA Mwinyi Mtoto Hamisi welcomed the initiative, saying residents have waited for years to obtain title deeds and deserve security of tenure.
“We need title deeds so that our people can live without fear. Let us sit together and move forward,” he said.
Despite welcoming the initiative, some residents called for greater transparency and adherence to legal procedures before implementation of any development projects.
James Boma, who said he has lived in Gung’ombe for more than three decades, urged authorities to issue formal notices and conduct comprehensive public participation exercises before making key decisions affecting the community.
“We are not rejecting development, but we want things done properly. Let there be gazette notices and proper public participation before decisions are made,” he said.
Another resident, Purity, urged leaders to prioritize land ownership documentation before introducing additional development initiatives.
“We have lived here for years under difficult conditions. What we want first is title deeds and then development,” she said.
Responding to the concerns, Amadoh assured residents that the consultative meeting marked only the beginning of the engagement process and that all legal requirements, including public participation and statutory notices, would be observed at the appropriate stages.
He also urged residents to elect representatives from among women, youth and elders to spearhead discussions with government officials, arguing that structured engagement would make negotiations more effective.
“We are not choosing leaders for you. Select people you trust to represent you. They will relay whatever is agreed upon back to the community,” he said.
Amadoh further cautioned against politicising the land ownership process, warning that some leaders could exploit the issue for political gain ahead of future elections.
“Land ownership is about people’s lives. Let us not turn it into politics. If we work together, we shall succeed,” he said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Mombasa County Government under Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir to finding a lasting solution to the land ownership challenges facing residents and called for continued dialogue to ensure the process is completed successfully.
