Mombasa — President William Ruto on Wednesday pledged to resolve the emotive land issue at the coast.

Speaking during the first day of his five-day tour in the coast region, the Head of State said the national government has already set aside Sh1 billion that will be used to buy land from absentee landlords as part of a resettlement plan in the region.

"We have already set aside Sh1 billion in the STF (Settlement Trust Fund) that will be used to buy land from the absentee landlord so that we can resettle the landless," said President Ruto.

Thousands of coast residents are living as squatters on parcels of land, whose owners are said to have relocated abroad or were allocated land before Kenya's independence.

In Kisauni, where President Ruto kicked off his coastal tour, thousands of residents are living as squatters in parcels of land that are marred with controversy.

Already, residents of Gandini, Maunguja, Kashani and Ugatuzi areas have been issued with eviction notices.

President Ruto directed Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to visit the affected areas on Saturday to help address the thorny issue.

He was speaking after commissioning the Bamburi - Mwakirunge - Rabai - Kaloleni Road, which will connect Mombasa and Kilifi counties and is expected to cost Sh2 billion upon completion.

Ruto is on Thursday expected to host King Charles III at Mtongwe Naval Base for a program involving Kenya's first Marine Commando Unit, which was trained by British Royal Marines.

Friday will see President Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House Mombasa in the morning and presiding over the Kenya Revenue Authority Taxpayers' Day at Sarova Whitesands Hotel at noon.

On Saturday, President Ruto will travel to Lamu County to commission a road in Lamu East and then visit Tana River County for the commissioning of the Bura Irrigation Scheme and Galole Gravity Water Project.

On Sunday, he will lead an inter-denominational Prayer Service in Mombasa.