Governor Advise Squatters to Reposes Land Through Legal Means

By Robby Ngoba

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

A section of Kilifi County leaders have urged squatters living on absentee landlords’ land to pursue ownership claims through legal channels rather than resorting to violence.

The leaders warned against forceful invasion of new parcels of land saying the practice was criminal and counterproductive at a time when the government was accelerating efforts to acquire land for the resettlement of squatters across the Coast region.

Speaking in Marafa Town of Magarini Subcounty, Governor Gideon Mung’aro expressed concern over increasing cases of violence linked to land disputes, particularly among young people seeking to claim ownership of land through unlawful means.

He explained that the confrontations have led to deaths, injuries and heightened tensions in several parts of the county.

On his part, Kilifi county commissioner Joseph Kibet warned that security agencies would take firm action against anyone attempting to occupy land illegally instead of seeking redress through the courts.

“When it comes to land matters, we have the Environment and Land Court, which is constitutionally mandated to arbitrate disputes when all other avenues have been exhausted. I urge squatters to respect court orders and follow the law. Anyone who chooses to break the law will face the consequences,” he said.

Speaking separately, Ganda Ward MCA Oscar Wanje said the courts remain the most effective avenue for resolving historical land injustices, particularly through the doctrine of adverse possession.

He revealed that the law allows individuals who have occupied land continuously for more than 12 years to seek ownership through the courts.

“The law under the Limitation of Actions Act provides for adverse possession, allowing people who have lived on land for more than 12 years to apply to the courts for ownership rights,” he said.

Wanje noted that in some cases, absentee landlords may be willing to sell disputed land, but squatters often lack the financial capacity to purchase it.

He, therefore, called for the establishment of a Squatter Resettlement Fund in Kilifi County to facilitate the acquisition of such land.

“If a squatter resettlement fund is established, it can be used to purchase land from willing sellers and support settlement programmes, since the national government alone cannot acquire all the land required,” he added.

He said governors and MPs from the six coastal counties have already identified parcels of land earmarked for acquisition by the national government.

The governor noted that the initiative is part of a broader programme aimed at resolving the long-standing squatter problem in the Coast region.

“As directed by President William Ruto, governors and MPs from the Coast region have worked together to identify parcels of land in every county that can be purchased by the government and subdivided among squatters currently residing on them,” he said.