Residents of Kasemeni village in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County, have threatened to return title deeds issued by President William Ruto’s administration, accusing the government of including incorrect land measurements that could undermine their property ownership rights.
The residents, who received the documents about a month ago, claim the sizes indicated on their title deeds are smaller than the actual parcels they have occupied for years, prompting demands for fresh surveys and corrections.
Speaking to journalists, the affected residents expressed dissatisfaction with the documents, insisting that the government must address the discrepancies before they can confidently accept the title deeds as valid proof of their land ownership.
John Kasim, one of the residents, questioned information contained in the documents, particularly a section indicating that the title deeds would only be completed after payment of certain fees despite assurances that the process had already been settled.
Kasim said the residents could not understand why they were issued documents containing such conditions, adding that they were unwilling to retain title deeds whose information raised questions about their validity and completeness.
Meanwhile, Moses Makelele claimed that some residents had attempted to use the documents to secure bank loans but were reportedly informed that the title deeds could not support their applications, frustrating their financial expectations.
The residents say they had hoped the documents would strengthen their ownership rights and allow them to access financial opportunities using their land as collateral, where applicable, but the alleged errors have raised fresh concerns.
Julius Kaema said the residents had agreed to surrender the title deeds through their area chief, Mwenyasi, for onward submission to the Deputy County Commissioner in Lunga Lunga, demanding that the government correct the disputed measurements.
The residents insist they are not demanding additional land but want the government to conduct fresh surveys, investigate the discrepancies and issue corrected title deeds reflecting the actual sizes of their parcels.