By Alloys Musyoka
President William Ruto has once again pledged to ensure that the issue of squatters in the coastal region is brought to an end, a promise he made while campaigning before 2022.
While addressing Kenyans during the 61 Mashujaa day, Ruto said that his administration has set aside Sh1.5 billion to buy land belonging to absentee landlords and settle squatters.
Thousands of locals in the Coastal regions are settling in land that belongs to absentee landlords with Ruto statement giving hope to many of them who have continued to squatter due to lack of land.
“We will work with the absentee landlord by buying their land and settling squatters in our bid to end the issue of squatters in the Coastal region,” he said.
Issues of historical land injustices in the coastal region have been a thorn in the flesh with previous regimes failing to keep their promise to help Coast people.
The president also traded his speech on the Blue economy that contributes Sh20 billion annually to the economy saying it is set to increase to Sh80 billion in five years.
The sector, he said, creates jobs and enhances export manufacturing among other benefits to the economy of the country with Sh2.7 billion set aside for fish landing sites and markets construction as well as cold storage facilities across the country.
“We have set aside Sh1.2 billion specifically for the Coast region for the fish landing sites and cold storage facilities. We are releasing Sh1.7 billion grants to 612 cooperatives in the region,” he said.
President Ruto also said that the Shimoni Fishing port, the Kenyans first fishing port, is at 82 percent complete and is aimed at boosting the fishing industry by 50,000 metric fish annually.
In order to promote and enhance aqua-culture and Mari-culture the government has set aside Sh2.4 billion with 1.4 billion being specific for the Coast region in the construction of a national Mari-culture training center in Shimoni.
Kwale governor Fatuma Achani the president for allowing the county to host Mashujaa event saying that it has brought a lot of benefits to the residents.
“You have supported us in completing this stadium. We have a road network improved in Kwale and Diani as well as a mini-state lodge, we appreciate Mr. president,” she said.
