President William Ruto has said that the government intends to take idle land throughout the country and utilize it to house thousands of squatters.
In a statement issued today in Mombasa, Ruto urged absentee landlords to surrender their underused land to the government at the current market value or face being forced to buy them out.
Ruto was in the area to kick off the Bamburi-Mwakirunge-Kaloleni Road Improvement Project.
He explained that the administration was searching for ways to ensure that all squatters in the country were settled.
“We will deal with absentee landlords, in the budget I approved two months ago there is about Ksh1 billion to pay off these landlords and settle some squatters,” he said.
According to Ruto, the project would continue for the next five years to ensure that unutilized land is granted to squatters and owners are compensated by the government.
According to Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, they are in talks with some affluent individuals to expedite the proposal.
At the same time, Ruto announced that at least 11 landing places will be constructed along the country’s coast to help the economy.
“This ocean can generate an annual revenue of approximately Ksh100 billion and we want these young men to get the necessary skills and create employment for themselves,” he said.
Ruto will be in the seaside region for five days, meeting King Charles III and his wife, who will be touring the area.
