Coast Land Politics; Politicians Promise to end Land Injustices

A section of political leaders in Kilifi have promised to issue title deeds to every land owner, adding it is part of their determination to end land injustices in the area.

Speaking during political rallies across the Malindi constituency, the politicians allied to Governor Amason Kingi urgued that the Coast region’s land has been used as a political campaign tool among leaders whose interests have been to frustrate residents.

Led by Kilifi governor aspirant George Kithi, the politicians faulted political parties outside the Coast region claiming that their leaders’ intentions are to grab the lands and leave the residents poor.

Kithi, a Nairobi-based prominent lawyer, said that in his line of duty he has been seeing title deeds being processed in offices yet the Coast residents don’t benefit from them.

He promised that his administration will issue title deeds to every land owner in Kilifi as long as they will provide proof of ownership.

He said that other leaders who previously served in the region through political parties that do not originate from the Coast region have deliberately contributed to the land squatter issue being experienced in Kilifi.

He warned political leaders from other regions coming to prey on the Coastal land saying that he will lawfully punish them if elected the governor in order to give residents what belong to them.

He promised that his administration will not allow any residents being unlawfully evicted from their lands.

Former Malindi member of parliament Lucas Maitha, on his part, said that the residents have been blindly supporting other political parties since independence but have never seen the land issues permanently solved.

Maitha who is the spokesperson of the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) argued that only a political party originating from the coast will end land injustices in order to benefit the residents.

He faulted Gideon Mung’aro who is vying for the Kilifi governor seat through the ODM party saying he was the CAS for lands in the previous governments but never solved the Coast land issues despite being a resident.

Malindi Constituency current member of Parliament Willy Mtengo said that land issues have been contentious and all the residents receive are promises.

He said that if re-elected the area MP through the new political party, he will spearhead land justice to residents since the party belongs to them.