Land disputes leading cause of insecurity in Coast, says Murkomen

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaking after the end of a Jukwaa la Usalama forum at Mwatate, Taita Taveta.

The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen has identified unresolved land issues as a leading cause of insecurity in Taita Taveta county.

Consequently, he has stressed the urgent need for inter-ministerial coordination to address squatter conflicts, illegal evictions and fraudulent land ownership schemes.

Speaking during a high-level security forum held in Taita Taveta as part of the Jukwaa la Usalama regional tour, Murkomen highlighted the chronic land problems that continue to fuel tension, displacement and violence.

He said in Taita Taveta and other parts of the Coast, land ownership disputes remained a persistent and potent driver of insecurity.

The CS toured six coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River and Taita Taveta.

He cited rampant squatter problems, forceful land takeovers and criminal syndicates, enforcing illegal eviction orders as key flashpoints.

According to him, some of these syndicates operate with backing from powerful sponsors, who exploited legal loopholes and manipulated local systems to acquire land fraudulently at the expense of the local population.

Murkomen said the government is planning a multi-agency approach involving the Ministry of Lands and security agencies to systematically address historical land injustices and prevent future conflicts.

He said those found culpable of orchestrating land invasions or issuing illegal eviction notices will face prosecution.

“We must take action against criminal networks that hide behind court orders or fake documents to evict citizens. The Ministry of Lands will play its role, but as the Interior docket, our responsibility is to ensure these conflicts do not escalate into violence,” Murkomen said.

His remarks came amid growing concern over the status of public and private land ownership in the county, leaving the majority of the population landless or living under constant threat of eviction.

The CS said the issue requires policy-level engagement and deeper structural reforms, especially in land registration and title issuance processes.

The dire situation in Taita Taveta had also been highlighted by the Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, which visited the county a day before the CS’s forum.

The committee, led by chairperson Mohamed Faki, was on a fact-finding mission following a petition by residents of the Mwananchi Settlement Scheme in Mwatate.

The residents, who were allocated land by the government and issued with title deeds, are now living with fear of eviction after a court ruling last year favored a private investor claiming ownership of the same land.

Faki expressed concern over the rising tension and fear among the affected families, warning that the ongoing legal battles and threats of eviction could easily trigger violence.

He urged the investor involved in the dispute to stay with about 1,322 people who had been given the land in peace allowing them to continue with their activities as they await another court ruling, which is set to be delivered before the end of the month.

He however criticised the Ministry of Lands for what he termed as habitual issuance of title deeds without due diligence, saying the practice has led to widespread confusion, double allocations and land-related insecurity.

“Local administrators and land officials must be more cautious. This problem is not new in Taita Taveta. We’ve visited this county several times and every time, it’s a land case. The process of issuing titles must be accurate and transparent,” Faki said.

Taita Taveta Senator Jones Mwaruma, who led the Senate committee in different parts of the county affected by land disputes, echoed the concerns, urging the national government to ensure once land is allocated and titles are issued, beneficiaries should be protected from future claims and harassment.

“We are not just gathering facts. We want lasting solutions. Residents in Marungu, Maungu Pipeline, Voi and other parts of this county are constantly being dragged into land conflicts and it’s our duty to ensure justice prevails,” he said.

Beyond land, Murkomen cited competition over natural resources such as water and pasture as other factors that might contribute to insecurity.

He said issues around mining operations, misuse of prospecting licenses and illegal mining are additional triggers of community conflict, particularly in Taita Taveta, where mining is a major economic activity.