The National Land Commission (NLC) is set to conduct comprehensive research on land use and ownership in Kilifi County to address decades of controversial public land acquisition and management processes.
Speaking in Malindi during a three-day inquiry into the ownership of land earmarked for Phase One of the Malindi Airport’s expansion project, NLC Vice Chairperson Gertrude Nguku highlighted the challenges posed by inconsistent policies implemented since Kenya’s independence in 1963.
Nguku noted that successive administrations had introduced overlapping policies, such as land adjudication, settlement programs, and public land declarations, often leaving earlier processes incomplete.
“This has led to persistent squatter issues and competing claims over land ownership in Kilifi. Resolving these discrepancies is crucial to ensuring sustainable land management and governance at both county and national levels,” she told journalists.
Nguku emphasized the NLC’s constitutional mandate to research and advise authorities on land use and management to actualize the principles of Article 60 of the Kenyan Constitution.
“The people will have to be involved in collecting data about how they have been affected by these conflicting processes to actualize the principles of Article 60 of the Constitution. Land should be managed in a way that is efficient, effective, productive, and sustainable,” she said”.
She noted that the Kilifi County Government will spearhead public participation efforts, rallying residents to share their experiences and provide data on the impacts of historical land policies.
“The collaborative approach aims to ensure inclusive policy-making and address existing gaps,” Nguku said adding that the commission would work closely with the national government and the Kilifi County authorities to resolve long-standing issues and provide actionable recommendations.”
Apostle Kassim Nyundo, a resident of Mwanamwinga ward, voiced his frustrations over being labelled a squatter on land his family has inhabited for generations.
“My grandfather lived here as early as 1888. We have no title deeds, yet we are told to prove ownership. These are injustices that need to be addressed,” he lamented, calling for recognition of traditional land rights alongside formal title documents.
Other residents, including Ibrahim Ndaa Jeno and Safari Charles Kitsao from Malindi’s Kwa Chocha area, praised the inquiry spearheaded by the NLC. They expressed hope that rightful landowners would receive fair compensation for land acquired by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) as part of the airport expansion project.
The Commission has already compensated squatters for structures on the land and intends to compensate title holders, but delays due to counterclaims on the same land have led some aggrieved parties to seek court intervention.
During the inquiry, NLC Chairman Gershom Otachi stated that the exercise marked a significant step towards resolving longstanding disputes surrounding the airport’s expansion project.
He noted that the land acquisition process, which began in 2006 under the Ministry of Lands, initially compensated squatters for structures they had built on the land adding that title deed holders have not yet received compensation due to disputes and budgetary constraints.
“We had published information on the title holders, but there were disputes regarding the legitimacy of some of the titles. Furthermore, squatters, who were previously compensated for their structures, are now demanding payment for the land itself,” he said.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Coast Regional Manager, Abel Gogo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the airport to meet international standards.
Meanwhile, the Commission has urged squatters and landowners occupying land earmarked for Phase Two of the airport expansion project to remain patient, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed once the issues surrounding Phase One are resolved.
“We want to proceed systematically, and when the time comes, we will address their issues and compensate genuine beneficiaries accordingly,” said Mr Otachi.
Mr Otachi was responding to complaints from squatters on the land earmarked for Phase Two of the project who expressed frustration at the lengthy waiting period and the losses incurred since their property was valued six years ago.
They complained that the government, through the NLC and the KAA, had prohibited them from carrying out any further developments on the land.
Led by Harrison Kavoi, Chairman of the Airports Expansion Liaison Committee, the squatters had earlier sought an audience with the Commission but were turned away as the current exercise was focused on landowners in Phase One.
Speaking to journalists outside the Deputy County Commissioner’s office, the squatters questioned whether the project was still proceeding and whether the valuation of their property carried out six years ago remained valid or required a fresh valuation.
By Emmanuel Masha and Baraka Mweni
