After Years of Struggle, Chawuse Community Receive Community Land Title
On 1st October 2026, Chawuse Community received their Community land title from President William Ruto. It was a day of celebration it ends years of petitions and setbacks. For CLAN!, it shows what the Community Land Act, 2016 can deliver when communities and government institutions work together. Community leaders and TARCC describe it as the first time in Kenya that land held under private lease has returned to a community through conversion and registration under the Act. It was one of 31,318 titles the President issued in Taita Taveta County.
Background of Chawuse Community Land
The land lies in Chawia Ward, Mwatate Sub-County and covers about 6,000 acres. A private individual held it on leasehold for about 42 years. When the lease expired, the community set out to bring the land back to its ownership.
The first step came from the Council of Elders who became concerned that the farm was being mismanaged. They wrote to the National Land Commission asking that the lease not be renewed and that the land be returned to the community. They also took the matter to Taita Taveta County Assembly which backed the call and later inspected the land.
The community then followed the procedure set out in the Community Land Act, 2016. They registered with the Ministry of Lands and elected a CLMC to lead the process. Because the land had reverted to public ownership when the lease ended, its conversion to community land required the consent of the County Government. Governor Andrew Mwadime gave that consent. Land use plan came next and it was costly. The County Government contributed funds and Mwatate MP Peter Shake covered much of the balance. NLC officials visited the land in 2025 to inspect.
Community leaders spoke of opposition, threats and court cases from individuals who wanted the process stopped. “Truly, we have searched for this title deed a lot,” said CLMC Chairperson Mwasi Kiondo. “And we have met with many oppositions.” The matter eventually reached President Ruto through the MP and the President undertook to hand over the title himself.
Collaboration of CLAN!, TARCC and the community
CLAN! has worked with Chawuse community since 2023 through Taita Resource Community Center (TARCC) which supports at least 12 communities across Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu. This support is part of Securing Registered Title to Our Lands project funded by the Tenure Facility that helps communities register community lands and have secure tenure rights.
CLAN! and TARCC oversaw the community through each legal step:- registering the community, converting the land and preparing the land use plan. When the process stalled early on, TARCC brought the committee to Nairobi to meet the then NLC Chairperson, Gershom Otachi, whose guidance set out the legal path to follow. CLAN! also helped the community engage the NLC, the County Government, the County Assembly and National Government administrators including local chiefs. “Even until the final step, even as we stand here today, I see the hand of CLAN here,” said Mr Kiondo.
Title issuance ceremony
Speakers at the event described a long wait finally ended. “Many elders on this coast lived wishing to see a title deed before they die,” said Fikirini Jacobs, Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the coast’s land problem had defeated four presidents before William Ruto.
President Ruto noted that Chawuse land had been tied up in court cases and other disputes. “That land of Chawuse, people of Taita Taveta, now its matters are finished,” he said. “I have your title here and you will go home with it today.”
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome noted that the title would hold the land for 12,000 Chawuse residents. She urged them to guard it: “Let it not cause disagreements, do not sell. Let it be security for your families and your community.”
Community leaders shared the credit widely. Mr Kiondo thanked President Ruto, Governor Mwadime, MP Shake, the area MCA and CLAN!. Claris Konde, Vice Chairlady of the committee, spoke directly to the women. “Do not say that the mothers have been left behind, It does not matter where you are a girl or married, your name will be in the register and you will benefit.”:
The title opens a new phase. “We have been given the land, but we must now make plans to do work,” said community member Mcharo. “This is not the end.” The community has already set out its plans. Herding and mining take place on the land today and areas will be set aside for each. Mr Kiondo said the community also plans a conservancy and wants to explore carbon credit partnerships, both as sources of income. Those already running projects on the land will not be evicted, provided they cooperate with the community and follow their conditions. Registration of members is underway and every Chawuse member qualifies.
Philip Koyei, CLAN! Coordinator, said the title gives the community the power to negotiate investments on the land. Because mining interests have made the land sensitive, CLAN! urged unity. “This is community land, it should benefit you the community,” said Paul Lekapana. CLAN Secretary General Judy Kipkenda asked members not to let the title become a source of hostility. CLAN and TARCC will be close to Chawuse community after registration to support the subsequent processes of land governance and land use planning.
Many communities in CLAN! network still have registrations pending. CLAN! appeals to NLC and the Ministry of Lands to fast-track these processes. “We would like to see more of this replicated in the other communities that we are supporting in Kenya,” said Judy.
The State Department for Lands has opened public participation on a Community Land Mass Registration Masterplan for 2026 to 2031, and CLAN! encourages its members and partners to take part. We also call on development partners to invest in the long, patient work that registration demands.