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.
According to Kenya News Agency, 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 continued to fuel tension, displacement, and violence across the region. He pointed out that in Taita Taveta and other parts of the Coast, land ownership disputes remained a persistent and potent driver of insecurity.
The forum was held as he concluded his tour of the six coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River, and Taita Taveta. The CS cited rampant squatter problems, forceful land takeovers, and criminal syndicates enforcing illegal eviction orders as key flashpoints.
Murkomen stated that 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 conflict. He emphasized that those found culpable of orchestrating land invasions or issuing illegal eviction notices would face prosecution.
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. Murkomen acknowledged the concern, affirming that 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. Led by committee chairperson Mohamed Faki, the Senators were on a fact-finding mission following a petition by residents of the Mwananchi Settlement Scheme in Mwatate.
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 1322 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.
Faki criticized the Ministry of Lands for what he termed as habitual issuance of title deeds without due diligence, saying that the practice has led to widespread confusion, double allocations, and land-related insecurity. Taita Taveta Senator Jones Mwaruma echoed the concerns, urging the national government to ensure that once land is allocated and titles are issued, beneficiaries should be protected from future claims and harassment.
Beyond land issues, CS Murkomen also highlighted other contributors to insecurity in the region, including competition over natural resources like water and pasture, especially between farmers and pastoralists. He pointed to disputes around mining operations, misuse of prospecting licenses, and illegal mining as additional triggers of community conflict, particularly in Taita Taveta, where mining is a major economic activity.