This archive report was first published on 14 November 2019.
November 14, 2019
Residents of Chakama location in Kilifi county are in a state of confusion after receiving title deeds for land they cannot identify.
Over two years ago, the government issued title deeds to about 170 residents, but since then, some have been selling the documents at a low price due to anxiety.
Each beneficiary received a title deed for land measuring 7.5 acres, but the lack of knowledge about their respective pieces of land has led to the sale of the titles at Sh150,000 or less.
The land adjudication and allocation exercise was marred by irregularities, with locals being omitted from the original list of beneficiaries and replaced by outsiders.
The outsiders were allocated fertile lands along River Sabaki, while the residents were pushed to dry areas.
The land in question was originally part of Chakama Ranching Company, which was formed in 1978 by a group of people, including politicians.
The company was registered on a 45-year leasehold under the then Kilifi county council, and later, the directors took a Sh100 million loan from a bank, which they defaulted on.
Retired President Mwai Kibaki intervened in 2004, stopping the sale of the land and directing Finance Minister David Mwiraria to get funds to settle the residents.
The government later bought the land at Sh108 million, but it was not until the 2017 general election that part of the land was hurriedly adjudicated and title deeds issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Kilifi county government and the national government are now involved in the matter, with Lands Chief Administrative Secretary Gideon Mung'aro warning beneficiaries against selling their title deeds.
