By Betty Luke
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s adminstration has issued title deeds to 6000 residents of Ngaremara and Oldonyiro wards in Isiolo after over five decades wait to get the crucial documents.
This is an addition to 300 title deeds that Isiolo has had since independence and which land owners acquired on their own.
While witnessing the historic issuance of the documents in Ngaremara, Treasury CS Ukur Yattani urged the locals not to be lured into selling their land at lower prices but to develop it for economic empowerment.
“Use the title deeds as collateral to access loans to empower yourselves and not putting them in your houses,” he said.
County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding asked the beneficiaries to take advantage of ongoing mega government projects to earn extra income.
A 65-year-old Margaret Soyo, a beneficiary, said she will develop her land without fear of being defrauded.
“My land has been lying idle but I will now be able to develop it without any fears. I will build rental rooms to earn some income,” she said.
Land grabbing due to double and multiple allocations necessitated by rogue land officials has been on the rise in the region with hundreds of poor residents holding onto hope that one day their land would be reverted back to them.
Multiple legal battles over ownership of the properties has left many of the parcels idle.
Reports show land cartels collude with influential leaders who pay some groups to eject legitimate land owners and sue them to get stay orders that prevent them from continued development of the properties.
Mr Omoding assured residents they had put in place requisite measures to ensure peaceful August elections.
