A high-stakes land dispute is unfolding in Taita Taveta, pulling in some of Kenya's most powerful figures and spotlighting the perennial issue of land ownership that defines livelihoods and ignites political tensions. At the heart of the matter is a lawsuit filed by former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta and former Taveta MP Basil Criticos against the Chief Lands Registrar for failing to issue a title deed for a jointly owned 1,062.3-hectare (approximately 2,624 acres) property.

This legal challenge brings a sharp focus to the intricate web of land dealings in the region, a story of debt, political influence, and the unresolved plight of squatters. The same parcel of land is connected to a separate, controversial transaction where Mr. Criticos sold 2,536 acres to then-Deputy President William Ruto in 2017. The details of that sale remain contentious, with President Ruto stating it was a gift for helping settle a loan, while Criticos maintains it was a sale at market price.

A History of Debt and Dispossession

The roots of this saga trace back decades, entangled in loans and land battles. Mr. Criticos, once the owner of vast sisal estates, has faced a long history of conflict with squatters and financial troubles. Court documents reveal he took substantial loans from institutions like the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), using land co-owned with Mama Ngina as collateral. President Ruto, who formerly served as Minister for Agriculture, acknowledged assisting Criticos with an AFC loan, which preceded his acquisition of the 2,536-acre farm.

For the average Kenyan, this complex ownership history underscores a frustrating reality: access to land, the most critical factor of production, often seems determined by political connections and wealth. The Taita Taveta region, in particular, is a flashpoint where thousands of residents remain landless, living as squatters on ancestral lands now held by large-scale ranchers and corporations.

The Squatter Question Looms Large

While the legal battle over the title deed proceeds, the fate of hundreds of families hangs in the balance. Recent months have seen violent evictions in the Taveta area, with over 300 people left homeless after their houses were demolished to make way for agricultural projects. These events have sparked outrage and condemnation from local leaders, including Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, who noted that fertile lands have become targets for politically connected individuals.

The situation highlights a stark contrast:

• Powerful individuals are litigating over ownership of thousands of acres.
• The government has previously purchased thousands of acres from Mr. Criticos specifically to resettle squatters, yet many remain landless.
• Recent evictions have been carried out despite pending court cases filed by the affected families.

Analysts are divided on the implications of the current lawsuit. While it appears to be a direct challenge to compel the Lands Registrar to perform a statutory duty, the political undertones are impossible to ignore. The case links the past—the land dealings of the Kenyatta era—with the present administration through President Ruto's own land acquisition in the same area.

As the court prepares to hear the matter, the fundamental question for the people of Taita Taveta remains unanswered. It is a question that echoes across many parts of Kenya: When will the land provide security and a future for the many, not just wealth for a powerful few?