Marsabit residents get title deeds after waiting for decades

Thousands of Marsabit residents were on Thursday elated after receiving land title deeds after decades of waiting.

The national and county governments issued 1,650 tittle deeds to residents of Jirime location after 12 years of adjudication and survey of the land was completed.

The county government was commended for hastening the processing of the land ownership documents and ensuring that they are delivered to their owners at the grassroots.

Lands Principal Secretary Mariam El Maawy, while presiding over the event at Marsabit Stadium, said the county had set a precedent that should be emulated by other counties.
“We want to see other counties and other governors follow suit and we promise to work with counties so that residents receive land documents.

She said the issuance of the deeds was part of the Jubilee government plans.

She urged those with land disputes to take to the Dispute Resolution Committee rather that filing court suits.

ORIGINAL OWNERS
The PS was responding to Marsabit Town Ward MCA Halkano Halo, who threatened to go to court claiming 20 titles issued were not given to the original land owners.
She said the State has vowed to crack the whip on land grabbing in the county, adding that any land acquired illegally would have its title revoked.
She announced that survey and adjudication of land in the county was ongoing in Badasa, Karare, and Hula Hula and Laisamis.
She said the National Land Commission has gazetted the county as a land registration unit and would soon post a registrar to accelerate processing of the title deeds.
“For years the residents have been forced to travel to Isiolo and other towns in search of services but we will post one registrar in Marsabit in a month's time,’’ she said.