
20/08/2025
Mombasa Assembly Grills County Over Evictions Despite Ardhi Fund
Mombasa, Kenya – August 18, 2025
The Mombasa County Assembly on Tuesday engaged in heated debate after Members of County Assembly (MCAs) raised concerns over ongoing evictions of residents despite the passage of the Mombasa County Ardhi Fund Regulations.
The Fund, anchored on Article 43(b) of the Constitution, is meant to promote access to adequate housing, safeguard marginalized communities, foster equitable land ownership, and address historical land injustices through community-led dispute resolution mechanisms.
Hon. Juma Manuari questioned whether the current allocation of KES 50 million for land acquisition was sufficient, arguing that the figure falls far short of what is required to effectively tackle the county’s land crises.
He cited the landmark Waitiki land settlement in Likoni, where former Governor Hassan Joho worked closely with the national government to secure lasting solutions for thousands of families. Manuari urged Governor Abdulswamad Nassir to pursue similar high-level collaboration to prevent further displacements.
“The KES 50 million allocation cannot meet the scale of the challenge. Without robust partnership with the national government, we risk repeating the same cycle of evictions,” Manuari told the Assembly.
The session ended with MCAs calling for urgent action to operationalize the Fund and prioritize the protection of vulnerable communities, particularly those living under the threat of eviction by absentee landlords.