In a historic first for Samburu East, Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome on Thursday led the issuance of 60 title deeds to community land and public utilities, marking a breakthrough in securing land tenure and unlocking development in the region.

Of the 60 title deeds issued, covering a total acreage of 369,304 acres, five are for community land, while 55 are for public utilities, covering six schools, eight trading centres, three dispensaries, a cemetery, an airstrip, several water pans, churches, and two police stations, among other critical public facilities.

Speaking during the event, Friday, May 29, 2026, held at Ndonyo Wasin Primary School, Wahome, who was accompanied by Lands and Physical Planning PS Nixon Korir, said the issuance of title deeds will play a key role in unlocking development and strengthening land tenure security in Samburu East.

“This milestone will help residents unlock development opportunities and secure public assets for generations to come. We shall also engage with leaders on modalities of extending titling programmes to other parts of Samburu West,” she said.

The CS further urged residents to maintain peace and avoid community conflicts, emphasising that stability is essential for sustainable development and effective utilisation of land resources.

PS Korir thanked Samburu East leaders for their strong advocacy in pushing for the issuance of the title deeds, noting that collaboration between national and county leadership was key to achieving the milestone. He urged residents to put the land into productive use through investment and development initiatives that will improve livelihoods and drive economic transformation.

Residents described the initiative as the best thing the government has done for them, appreciating the strong collaboration that has made this achievement possible between the government and local organisations like IMPACT.

Community’s reaction

According to Paul Lepartingat, who is the Ndonyo Uasin Community Land chairman, they have waited for sixteen years to get these titles, and the long journey has come to a happy ending.

“We will now be able to develop our land. An investor had already shown interest in building a five-star hotel, but could not do so since we had no ownership document, but now it will be possible,” Lepartingat said

Importance of the exercise

He noted that the milestone goes beyond the issuance of documents, as it also secures the foundation for development, protects public assets, and strengthens confidence for investment.

Waso Ward member of the county assembly, Kelvin Lemantaan, described the title deeds as “not mere papers” but instruments that will unlock development and secure community resources.

The issuance marks a significant step in addressing long-standing land tenure challenges in Samburu County and forms part of the Government’s broader agenda of land reforms, digitisation of services, and equitable access to land ownership across the country