Kwale leaders unite to end 43,000-hectare ranch dispute after three years

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani when she appeared before the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds over the audit queries at Bunge Towers in Nairobi on September 2, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Wrangles have derailed the subdivision of a 43,466-hectare land in Lunga Lunga, Kwale, for more than three years.

Local leaders, however, want the exercise to proceed to allow the issuance of title deeds to Mwereni Group members.

A few months ago, the subdivision was halted following chaos among some residents.

This was after the emergence of two different sets of title deeds that were irregularly acquired, and the formation of a parallel committee consisting of nine members who were not recognised by the community.

Yesterday, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani and County Commissioner Stephen Orinde warned a section of the residents bent on frustrating the process.

Speaking in Mwereni during a public engagement, Achani called on the security agencies to arrest those interfering with the subdivision.

"The subdivision should be done in a transparent manner, putting the interests of the residents first. Those Lands officials who want to do monkey business with Mwereni Group Ranch should be brought to book."

"We have heard the cry, and I promise that this problem will come to an end peacefully, and everyone will have his or her title deed," added Orinde.

Lunga Lunga MP Mangale Chiphoromodo asked the national and county governments to sort out historical land injustices in the county.

The residents, led by Mwereni MCA Beja Manza and Joseph Ruwa Mwero, proposed that the "Jembe kwa Jembe" boundary system, not the clan, be used during the demarcation, saying it would protect the land from grabbers.

In the proposed system, genuine landowners will show their parcels in the presence of neighbours, which will be confirmed by surveyors.