Tensions have intensified in Mandera East as residents reject the county’s latest move to formalise land ownership, accusing officials of prioritising private interests over the community.
Hundreds of locals claim the allocation of title deeds, covering thousands of parcels, has been skewed to benefit outsiders and politically connected individuals.
The controversy stems from a National Land Commission (NLC) notice published on September 8, 2025, which opened a 30-day window for objections to the regularisation of 5,317 plots across ten areas.
These include Baraqwo, Koromey, Neboi, Heleshid, the Central Business District, and residential zones of varying density. President William Ruto is scheduled to oversee the issuance of title deeds once the process concludes.
Community leaders, led by Abdifatah Hussein, argue that Governor Mohamed Khalif’s administration has interfered with fair allocation.
They contend that the County Lands CEC, Salah Alio, prevented proper verification of claims and manipulated survey lists, favouring select beneficiaries while denying locals their lawful claims.
“Lands officers did not carry out verification as required by law due to constant interference from the CEC,” Hussein said, insisting that survey lists were altered to benefit outsiders and officials. Residents also claim the county has redirected land initially reserved for public institutions.
Hussein alleged that 8.773 hectares earmarked for Umma University were instead submitted under a private company, Servile Owners Management Company, while Mandera Teachers College land was divided into 18 plots and allocated to Nairobi-based individuals.
Alio defended the process, saying, “The beauty of this is that it is the NLC handling the matter and not myself or the county government.” He stressed that clarifying land ownership is vital for development, noting that unclear tenure has limited investment, entrenched inequality, and exposed residents to displacement and poverty.
Efforts to formalise land in Mandera East date back more than a decade. Attempts before 2010 failed under then Town Council Chairman, Mohamed Adan Khalif due to the absence of a land use plan.
In 2013, the county hired Real Plan Consultants Ltd to develop a municipal plan, but conflict arose when Spatial Research and Resource Survey (SRRS) Ltd, reportedly linked to a senior official’s relative, was later engaged to prepare allocation and survey plans.
Hussein said the company merged its plan with the approved 2022 version, leaving many rightful owners off the allocation lists. Issack Eden, a resident, noted discrepancies between survey allocations and the land use plan.
“Some parcels marked industrial in the land use plan appear as residential and were allocated to senior officials with exaggerated acreage. Others designated as residential were converted to public land without legal procedures,” he said.
Residents have petitioned the NLC to suspend issuance of title deeds until all disputes are resolved. Alio reiterated that the commission is now in charge, saying, “Many people are involved. At this stage, it is NLC’s responsibility to handle it following the public notice.”
He added that regularisation, though contested, is a step toward fairer land administration and community development.
