Kwale residents cry over rampant land grab by developers
By Shaban Omar, July 29, 2025More than 800 families from Waa/Ngombeni in Matuga, Kwale County, have raised concern over what they term as rampant land grabbing, which is threatening to displace them from their ancestral homes.
The residents allege that private developers, some allegedly enjoying protection from government insiders, have targeted their beach plots and community land.
According to them, the encroachers are producing questionable title deeds and claiming ownership of land that has been occupied by locals for generations.
Led by their land committee chairperson, Mwafitina Bakari, the affected families are demanding urgent government intervention to halt the ongoing intimidation and looming evictions.
“People we have never seen are showing up with fake documents claiming they own this land. We’ve lived here all our lives, yet we still lack title deeds despite countless promises from national leaders and land agencies,” said Bakari.
Escalated grabbing
He said the situation of land grabbing has escalated in recent months, with many families living in fear and uncertainty.
Bakari further decried the alleged irregular allocation of land within the Waa II Settlement Scheme, saying that parcels originally intended for local residents were controversially allocated to outsiders, including individuals with no ties to the area.
He added that for the few locals who received titles, they can’t locate their parcels of land because of a mix-up.
“The Waa II Settlement Scheme, previously known as Waa block 11 and 12, was meant to benefit locals who have lived here for decades, but shockingly, we are seeing people from outside being given title deeds while genuine residents are left out,” he said.
Other parcels under dispute include Amukan, Tembo Farm, Bamburi, and several other areas, which residents say have also been targeted by private developers.
According to Bakari, the lands were supposed to revert back to the communities, but their leases were fraudulently renewed.
He called on the government to revoke all questionable title deeds issued under suspicious circumstances and to initiate a fresh, transparent land adjudication process to restore justice and protect the community’s rights.
Historical injustices
Bakari also urged President William Ruto to personally intervene and ensure historical land injustices in the coastal region are addressed once and for all.
Another local resident, Mfaume Hamisi, said the ongoing land grabbing has severely disrupted their livelihoods.
He said that most families in Kwale rely on fishing and small-scale farming to survive, but the persistent harassment and threats from alleged land grabbers have made it difficult for them to continue with their daily activities.
“We can no longer fish or farm in peace because our lands have been grabbed. We are frequently arrested over allegations of tracepassing. Our lives have been turned upside down,” he said.
Hamisi further noted that the escalating land disputes have deepened poverty levels in the community.
He said the ongoing uncertainty and fear of displacement have made it nearly impossible for residents to invest in their land or improve their livelihoods, and that land conflicts have stripped them of dignity and stability.
He added that despite Kenya gaining independence over 60 years ago, many residents in Kwale have never truly experienced the freedom and security that land ownership brings; instead, they continue to live like squatters on their ancestral lands.
“Independence came, but for us, nothing changed. We have no title deeds, no security, and no recognition. It’s as if we are strangers on our own soil,” he said.
He was quick to clarify that the community is not fighting the government, but rather seeking justice and protection of their constitutional rights to land and shelter.
Hamisi said the locals just want to live peacefully and have something to leave behind for their children.
Calling home
A mother, Mwanaisha Ali, expressed her disappointment that their elders died waiting for titles, and their children might grow up without a place to call home if nothing is done.
She faulted the slow pace of land adjudication and titling in the area, which they believe has opened the door for speculators and grabbers to exploit the legal vacuum.
Another resident, Fatuma Ali, expressed concern over the devastating impact the land disputes have had on women in the community.
She said women often bear the brunt of the crisis, as their families’ main sources of income, fishing and farming, have been disrupted.