On January 28, 2022, Kilifi County Governor Amason Kingi addressed residents at the Chumani Social Hall in Matsangoni Ward, Kilifi North Sub County, where he issued land allotment letters to 227 people and two educational institutions.
Kingi expressed concern over the wanton sale of land, which he said was exacerbating the squatter problem in the county. He lamented that some residents had become professional squatters, selling their land immediately after getting ownership documents and then becoming squatters in other lands where they expected the government to settle them.
Kingi urged residents to use their documents to secure loans or lease their land instead of selling it. He emphasized that selling land without following due process was the cause of many family feuds and urged the beneficiaries to appreciate the government's efforts by keeping the land for themselves and future generations.
"We do not want to distribute such documents to you and then after two weeks we get information that half the land whose documents we have issued has been sold because when you sell your land, you must vacate, and this escalates the problem of landlessness," Kingi said.
He also called on the residents to lease their land if they were financially pressed, but to visit the county offices to get the proper value of their land if they must sell.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Land Maureen Mwangovya, who called on land control boards in the county to be vigilant and ensure that those who acquire land do not sell it without following due process.
