This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
Land ownership disputes in Golini ward, Matuga subcounty, Kwale county have reached a boiling point, with residents calling for a fresh land survey to resolve the issue.
According to residents, the current land ownership system is unfair, with foreigners holding title deeds to most of the land, while locals are left as squatters.
Weekly Citizen has established that the National Land Commission conducted a land assessment and adjudication exercise in the past, but it yielded no results.
Residents are now demanding a fresh survey to ensure fairness and the issuance of genuine title deeds, which would enable them to utilize their land effectively.
However, the local land office has been accused of being compromised by investors, who have bribed officers to issue title deeds to people from outside Kwale.
It is alleged that the officers have been bribed to the tune of Sh1 million to issue title deeds to land grabbers.
Former Kwale county women representative Zainab Chidzuga has questioned the role of the local police in allowing themselves to be compromised by land grabbers.
Assistant County Commissioner in Kwale Dennis Barasa has assured residents that their complaints will be investigated, and appropriate measures will be taken.
