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President William Ruto has tasked Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and two Cabinet Secretaries nominees; Salim Mvurya (Trade) and Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy) to help solve land issues in the coastal region.

Speaking in Kwale County on Saturday, July 27, 2024, Ruto wondered why large tracts of land in the region remain idle yet residents are squatters.

The Head of State indicated that large pieces of the idle land in the Coastal region are owned by absentee landlords.

With most residents demanding places to live, Ruto directed the three leaders to convene a meeting and draft the way forward over the issue of land.

Money, timelines

Ruto announced that his administration has set aside Ksh1 billion to facilitate the process.

However, he challenged the trio to expedite the process to ensure that the issue of land in the coastal region is addressed.

While imploring Joho, Kingi and Mvurya to take up the assignment, Ruto affirmed that his administration is keen to solve the perennial land issue as promised during the 2022 campaigns.

“Sasa apa Pwani, tuko na viongozi watatu wakubwa katika serikali hii. Tukona uyu Kingi ambaye ndio Spika wetu wa Senate, Tukona Mvurya- ndiye waziri wetu wa viwanda na tuko na mheshimiwa Ali Hassan Joho ambaye sasa ndio waziri wa madini (Now, the coastal region has three senior positions in government. We have Amason Kingi who is our Senate Speaker, Salim Mvurya who is a CS nominee in the Ministry of Trade and Ali Hassan Joho, a CS nominee for Mining and Blue Economy).

“Hao viongozi watatu sasa nataka kuwapa kibarua. Tulikubaliana na hawa watu wa Pwani ya kwamba mambo yao ya ardhi tutatatua. Wale walisema wakona land question, tukawaambia tukona land answer. Sasa mwaka huu, nimeweka Ksh1 billion kuanza kutatua mambo ya absentee landlords katika Pwani hii (Now I want to give three leaders an assignment. We made an agreement with the coastal people that we are going to solve the land issue. Now this year we have set aside Ksh1 billion to sought out the issue of absentee landlords),” Ruto stated.

“Nataka hawa viongozi waketi chini wakiwa mawaziri wawili na Speaker waketi chini waeze kukubaliana hii kazi tutaifanya vipi. Mimi nataka hii kazi tuanze mwaka huu ili tuweze kutekeleza ahadi yetu kwa watu wa Pwani ( I want these leaders to sit down and agree on the way forward. I want us to begin the work this year so that we can fulfil our promises to the coastal residents),” he added.

During his development tour in the region, Ruto promised to help them construct more roads, increase electricity connectivity and promote jobs through the creation of special economic zones and ICT hubs.

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