Nairobi — A total of 13,173 title deeds have been issued to squatters in Malindi District in the past year, said the local lands office.

Adjudication work was going on in some of the settlement schemes, said the area land adjudication and settlement officer, Mr Geoffrey Kariuki, and Magarini Settlement Scheme project manager, Mr James Ngiriri.

"The Ministry of Lands is still issuing more title deeds after rectifying some technicalities on the ownership papers," said Mr Kariuki.

However, some of the land that was meant to be allocated to squatters was repossessed by the Government after being grabbed by influential individuals.

Lands minister Kivutha Kibwana nullified title deeds for three tycoons, who had acquired land illegally at Ngomeni Settlement Scheme in Magarini.

Mr Ngiriri said officers were on the ground in Sosobora, Makobeni, Marereni-Msumarini Adjudication Section and Gongoni.

Once certain technical hitches are rectified, title deeds would be given to the squatters in those areas, he said.

Title deeds fees

Some of the settlement schemes for which squatters have received title deeds include Msongoleni, Ngomeni, Kakoneni, Mbaoni, Kakuyuni and Madunguni.

Other areas are Adu, Ramada, Marafa, Shauri Moyo, Fundi-Issa, Pumwani, Marereni-Msumarini GL and Mizijini.

At the same time, Mr Kariuki clarified that squatters would pay for the title deeds as opposed to them being issued to them for free.

He said that the President only waived the settlement fund trustee fee - the processing fees for titles.

The squatters will pay about Sh2,500 per acre, which is the standard fee at the Coast, classified as "low cost potential

Processing fees for plots in the rest of the country is about Sh 7,000.