President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed Cabinet Secretaries to fast-track the issuance of one million title deeds by July 20.
In a memo to the CSs dated July 4, and signed by Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua, it was indicated that the title deeds will be issued across the 47 counties with each minister assigned specific areas.
Uhuru explained that the government was targeting to issue title deeds to Kenyans who own land and do not have the documents to prove ownership.
Additionally, the CSs were directed to report the progress of the exercise by July 21.
Further, it was noted that the directive was aimed at cementing President Uhuru Kenyatta's legacy before retiring in August.
"The reforms have sought to resolve the historical tensions that existed on land ownership, allocation, distribution, and utilization and their linkages to the nation's socio-economic and political development.
"As an answer to the land question in Kenya, the Administration has realized accelerated reforms in the land sector and scaled up the of issuance of title deeds by issuing six million title deeds; compared to 5.6 million title deeds issued by the colonial government and all the past administrations combined," read the memo in part.
Counties that will receive the highest number of title deeds include Siaya County which was allocated 150,652 while Meru County will receive 106,893 titles.
Other notable beneficiaries include Kisumu (90,696), Baringo (33,829), Machakos (82,606), and Kakamega (61,469) among others.
The directive by Uhuru barely comes days after he issued title deeds targeting marginalised groups in the country.
“I am honoured to have been the president who handed over a title deed to the first woman land owner in Marsabit; a feat that was unthinkable a decade ago when it was culturally held that women could not hold a title in land,” he stated then.
The move comes amidst the government's plan to digitise land processes through the Ardhi Sasa platform that has been rolled out in Nairobi County.
