President William Ruto speaks after issuing title deeds to coastal residents at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa on October 2, 2026. /PCSPresident William Ruto has said the government will not pay billions of shillings to absentee landlords whose land is occupied by communities on the Coast.
Ruto said the government is pursuing a sustainable compensation plan while protecting residents who have occupied the land for years from eviction.
He spoke on Friday at Mama Ngina Waterfront Grounds in Mombasa, where he issued 5,000 title deeds to residents of Dongo Kundu, Waitiki, Mwakirunge, Mikindani and Mafisini settlement schemes.
"We give notice to those refusing to accept the Government’s compensation plan: Not a single Kenyan will be evicted from the land they have occupied and called home," Ruto said.
The titles are part of 300,000 title deeds issued across the Coast region this week to families who have occupied the land for years without ownership documents.
Coastal residents during issuance of title deeds at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa by President William Ruto, October 2, 2026. /PCS
The President said some absentee landlords had rejected the government's compensation proposals and were instead demanding what he described as exorbitant sums for land targeted for allocation to landless residents.
Ruto accused some of the landowners of seeking to exploit the compensation process at the expense of the taxpayer.
"The government of Kenya cannot be blackmailed. You cannot force us using the title deed you hold, which you want to use to evict the residents who live there," he said.
President William Ruto issues a title deed to a coastal resident at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, October 2, 2026. /PCS
The President said he had invited the affected landowners to negotiations on a sustainable compensation plan to avoid evictions, but some had declined the government's terms and raised their compensation demands.
"They are apparently waiting for billions of shillings; I wonder from whom. There are no billions you will be given. How much did you pay to acquire that land?" he asked.
"I'm asking those with title deeds to come with their receipts; we want to see how much they paid for them to ask us for billions."
President William Ruto issues a title deed to a coastal resident at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, October 2, 2026. /PCS
Ruto said the government would continue pursuing a solution to historical land injustices at the Coast, arguing that all Kenyans should enjoy equal rights to own land.
"It can't be that some citizens will live in their country as half citizens, as citizens with no rights to own land, as citizens who can't guarantee that their houses will still be standing the following day," he said.
"We can't continue like that; we must do everything to ensure there's equality in Kenya."
President William Ruto issues a title deed to a coastal resident at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, October 2, 2026. /PCS
The President said resolving the land question would restore dignity to coastal residents who have lived for years without formal ownership documents.
Under the government's approach, once land is acquired from private owners, it is surveyed and subdivided before title deeds are issued to long-term occupants.
The Coast has for years faced land ownership disputes linked to historical injustices, with large parcels held by private owners while communities occupy parts of the land without formal ownership documents.
President William Ruto issues a title deed to a coastal resident at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, October 2, 2026. /PCS
