KILIFI, Kenya – President William Ruto has announced a government plan to purchase land from absentee landlords to resettle squatters in the Coast region, addressing a long-standing land ownership crisis that has left thousands landless for generations.
Speaking on Friday, February 21, at a funeral service in Kilifi County, Ruto said the initiative will be carefully managed to ensure only legitimate absentee landlords are compensated.
He appointed Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome (Lands), Hassan Joho (Mining), and Salim Mvurya (Sports) to oversee the vetting process.
“We have made progress, and we now have funds to compensate these absentee landlords,” Ruto stated. “This will not be resolved in just one or two years, but we are committed to significantly addressing the squatter problem at the Coast.”
For decades, many residents in coastal counties have lived as squatters, despite vast tracts of idle land belonging to absentee landlords.
Ruto’s announcement signals an effort to resolve the historical injustices surrounding land ownership in the region.
The president also assured squatters in Kilifi County that the government is working to resolve ownership disputes over land belonging to the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) in Magarini.
He promised that affected residents would receive title deeds later this year.
In a broader push for equity, Ruto reiterated his commitment to ending systemic discrimination in the issuance of national identification documents, particularly for border communities.
“All Kenyans will now undergo the same vetting process for IDs,” he said, signaling an end to long-standing disparities affecting coastal residents.
Beyond land issues, Ruto highlighted major infrastructure investments in Kilifi County, including a Sh2 billion allocation from the Sh10 billion national electricity expansion initiative aimed at improving power access in marginalized counties.
He also provided updates on ongoing electricity projects, announcing that the Rabai-Bomani-Kilifi transmission line, launched last year, is set for completion by June 2025.
Additionally, the Sh9 billion Kilifi-Weru-Malindi transmission line is progressing as planned.
“These power lines will provide stable electricity, boosting industrial growth, businesses, and job creation,” Ruto said.
