Jomvu MP Badi Twalib among 500 beneficiaries as Mombasa's Miritini squatters get title deeds

More than 500 residents of Miritini, Mombasa, have been issued with title deeds in a land regularisation exercise, with Jomvu Member of Parliament Badi Twalib revealed as one of the beneficiaries.

This is part of an ongoing initiative by the Mombasa County government to address long-standing land disputes and secure tenure for thousands of families.

The event, however, took an unexpected turn when Badi disclosed that he had himself lived as a squatter for over a decade, despite being a sitting legislator.

His admission drew murmurs across the crowd before being met with applause. Mining CS and former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho had invited the MP to share his reflections.

“I have been a squatter. It is not that I lacked the means to acquire land, but I deliberately waited so that I could go through this process with my people. I wanted to show that I am not above the struggles they face,” Badi told the gathering.

Residents, many of whom have waited years for documentation, said they were moved by the MP’s gesture. For them, the revelation symbolised solidarity and a break from what they described as a history of leaders distancing themselves from the hardships of ordinary citizens.

The land in question falls under the Miritini Site and Service Scheme, launched in 1986 with support from the World Bank and handed over to residents in 1996. The scheme has since developed into a residential neighbourhood with key infrastructure such as piped water, sewerage, electricity, drainage and paved roads.

Out of 921 plots within the scheme, 420 had already been titled in earlier phases. The latest round saw more than 400 plots regularised, with officials assuring residents that the remaining titles would also be processed.

County officials praised the legislator’s remarks, with some noting that it highlighted the seriousness of land insecurity in Mombasa, where large numbers of people have lived without formal ownership for generations.

Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, who presided over the distribution, said the exercise was part of his administration’s wider plan to resolve historical injustices tied to land.

“The journey to home ownership for Miritini residents has taken generations. Today’s event gives families dignity, stability, and security. It also strengthens our county by expanding the valuation roll, allowing us to generate revenue that will be used to improve services,” Abdulswamad said.

The governor emphasised that his government was determined to replicate the programme across all six sub-counties.

Abdulswamad explained that the county was pursuing the initiative in an organised manner to prevent disputes and ensure fairness.

“We are implementing this progressively to make sure that every deserving family receives what is rightfully theirs,” he said.

For residents, the issuance of title deeds was more than just a bureaucratic exercise. Some described the moment as historic, recalling how their parents and grandparents had occupied the land but died before receiving ownership.

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• mombasa title deeds
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Fatuma Ali, 62, said her family had lived in Miritini since the late 1980s. “My parents raised us here, but they never lived to see this day. Holding this title deed is like holding their dream,” she said, fighting back tears.

Another resident, 38-year-old Hassan Mwinyi, explained that without a title deed, he had struggled to access credit facilities to expand his small business. “Now I can use this land to plan for my children’s future. It is not just a piece of paper, it is an opportunity,” he said.

For MP Badi, the event marked the end of a personal journey and the beginning of a new chapter for his constituents. He said he hoped the exercise would restore confidence among Mombasa residents that land injustices could be addressed through collective effort and political will.

“This is not just about documents. It is about justice, equality, and the dignity of every family that has called Miritini home,” he said.