President Ruto launches phase two of the National Land Titling Programme at the Coast, as Saido backs the push to end historical land injustices.
For generations, many families along the Kenyan Coast have lived on land they could not call their own. They built homes, raised children and buried loved ones on plots with no paper to prove it, always aware that a developer, a cartel or a court order could end it all.
This week, that story began to change for some of them.
President William Ruto, on his ongoing coastal tour, launched the second phase of the National Land Titling Programme. It will distribute 300,000 title deeds to residents of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River counties. The drive is part of a wider plan to issue 500,000 land ownership documents, aimed at the squatter problem and other land disputes that have troubled the region for decades.
At the Mama Ngina Waterfront Grounds in Mombasa, the President handed over 5,000 title deeds to beneficiaries from the Dongo Kundu, Waitiki, Mwakirunge, Mikindani and Mafisini settlement schemes. The government says the programme has now passed a major milestone, with more than one million title deeds issued nationwide.
"It will unlock wealth"
Among those welcoming the move is Mombasa politician Said Abdalla, popularly known as Saido, who is eyeing the Nyali parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
Saido says a title deed is more than a piece of paper. In his view, it gives families permanent security and a way to build wealth. With a title, he argues, residents can access loans and start projects that improve their livelihoods.
He also spoke about the fear that has shadowed Coast squatters for decades: disputes, and the constant threat of eviction by private developers and land cartels.
"The steps being taken by the President will directly address the historical land injustices that had long marginalized the local population," he said.
Saido added that the programme could help return hundreds of acres of public land, grabbed over the years by private developers and cartels, to local people. He described land grabbing at the Coast as having reached "alarming proportions" and urged the relevant authorities to act against those driven by greed. "The free land titling initiative will protect vulnerable communities and improve livelihoods," he said.
A political message too
Saido also used the moment to declare his support for President Ruto and the broad-based government. He argued that the Kenya Kwanza administration deserves another five-year term, saying it "needs stability and continuity to complete its development agenda."
What happens next?
A title deed is a powerful document, but it is only the beginning of the story. As the programme rolls out across six counties, residents will be watching to see that the process stays fair and transparent and that every beneficiary gets what was promised. They will also want to know how disputed parcels will be handled and whether grabbed public land is truly recovered.