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Mombasa County introduces new bill to tackle land ownership challenges

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By Farhiya Hussein | Sunday, February 18, 2024

The county administration aims to acquire land from willing landlords and issue titles to squatters who are willing buyers.

Mombasa County is taking proactive steps to tackle longstanding land ownership challenges with the introduction of the Mombasa County Ardhi Fund Bill 2024.

Under the new legislation, the county administration aims to acquire land from willing landlords and issue titles to squatters who are willing buyers.

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These buyers will have the opportunity to gradually offset their debt through rate payments based on their financial capacity over time.

Speaking in Junda area on Saturday, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir said the proposed Mombasa County Ardhi Fund Bill 2024 will provide the County Government of Mombasa with a framework to resolve historical land ownership issues in Mombasa.

“The bill will proceed to the Assembly for discussions. Here in Junda land squatter is a big issue. You find a land owner who has a title deed but those residing within the area are squatters. These are some of the issues we seek to resolve,” said Abdulswamad.

He said the land conflict continues to be a problem in Mombasa.

The proposed Mombasa County Ardhi Fund Bill 2024 will provide the County Government of Mombasa with a framework to resolve historical land ownership issues in Mombasa once and for all.

Through this legislation, my administration will purchase land from willing landlords and… pic.twitter.com/3PELRwKiEG
— Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir (@A_S_Nassir) February 17, 2024

The governor said the bill will work in favour of the willing buyer willing seller, whereby the county will buy the land from the owner and sell it to residents who will pay an agreed amount within the agreed period.

“As a county, we will look for the funds and pay for the land for those who will be willing to sell. The buyers will then be provided with ways to settle to get their title deed,” said Abdulswamad.

The governor urged the residents once they get the land and title deed to not sell it out of greed.

“I urge all of you, I know it is something that will happen but I request you do not make decisions out of greed. If you get the title deeds do not sell your lands for a satisfaction of a day or two. We want to resolve the squatter issue so it is best you retain it to assist your children tomorrow,” he said.

The bill will see residents either buying the lands for the full amount and receiving their title deed in what Governor Abdulswamad says will be a throwaway price.

The other option is the residents will be given their land rates upon agreement and start paying their debts in deposits.

“It is my hope and prayer that when I am done as the Mombasa Governor squatter the issues will have been resolved,” he said.