Leaders from Kilifi county led by their Senator Stewart Madzayo have intensified their call to the National Government to grant them a unique tribe code and accelerate efforts of resolving long-standing land disputes in the area.

The leaders made their demands during the burial of 98-year-old Waata elder, Emmanuel Badiva Guyo in Marafa ward, Magarini Sub County.

“I will take upon myself to ensure that I table a statement in the Senate so that the Waata community can get their tribe code and also ensure that the residents of Magarini including our Senate Speaker Amason Kingi get title deeds,” said Kilifi Senator, Stewart Madzayo.

The long-standing land dispute over Galana Kulalu Ranch, also known as ADC 1 FR, is between the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) and local communities. In a Parliament report on a public petition, the said communities argue that a legitimate boundary is based on a 1961 agreement.

On the other hand ADC has a different claim which includes a potentially larger area. This misunderstanding has led to disputes over land ownership, grazing rights, and development, with some community members seeking court intervention in the past.

According to Jacob Kokani, chairman of the 35,000 members coastal based community, they haven’t achieved full independence yet as a tribe hence missing out on key rights. He also revealed that their lifestyle has been significantly impacted by new hunting policies and modern socio-economic pressures that have forced many of them to adopt farming and other forms of employment necessitating urgent government’s intervention.

“It is very painful that we are still not recognized as a tribe but we demand that the gazettement be done so that we can be an independent tribe, at the moment we only have a census code,” he said

Mr. Philip Wario, the Kilifi County Chief Officer for Livestock Development and also a member of Waata community noted that the lack of a tribe code has hindered access to many national opportunities for the community.

Meanwhile the Director of Minority Affairs at State House, Geoffrey Tenai upon hearing the grievances assure the community of government’s efforts in trying to reach an amicable solution insisting the matter may take some time but will finally be resolved peacefully.

“On the gazettement matter, I will follow up until it is done,” said Tenai.

“On ADC, we shall move slowly because we must be fair to all parties. Even if the president came here and gave timelines, government processes usually take long but I am very confident the matter will be resolved,” added Tenai.

This Galana Kulalu Ranch land dispute is just one of the many land dispute challenges facing coastal residents despite recent efforts of President Ruto’s government to solve them majorly by issuance of title deeds.