Mombasa: The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, has urged Kenyans to live harmoniously and support vulnerable members of the society as Muslims across the country marked Eid-ul-Adha celebrations. Speaking in Mombasa after Eid-ul-Adha prayers, Joho called on Kenyans to embrace unity, sacrifice, and compassion in their daily lives.
According to Kenya News Agency, Joho emphasized the importance of sacrifice, drawing parallels with Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. The CS lauded the recent presidential tour of the Coast region, highlighting the opportunity it provided for the Head of State to engage with residents and address long-standing challenges affecting the area. During the visit, 33,000 title deeds were issued to residents of several counties, including Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, and Taita Taveta.
In a bid to resolve the squatter problem at the coast, the government plans to issue an additional 200,000 title deeds in the next 90 days after purchasing land from absentee landlords. Joho pointed out that this marks the first time the government has purchased such a large number of parcels of land already occupied by citizens, with the aim of settling them and resolving land ownership issues.
Joho also emphasized the government’s duty to create an enabling environment for employment and investment in the region. He highlighted ongoing projects designed to reduce post-harvest losses among fisherfolk through the construction of cold storage facilities and fish markets.
On political matters, the CS acknowledged that ambition is a natural part of leadership but remained non-committal about speculation linking him to a possible deputy presidential role under the Broad-Based Government. He stressed the importance of unity and purposeful work to remain relevant in the political landscape.
Joho also warned against the politicization of land matters, affirming the government’s commitment to resolving historical land injustices at the Coast. Meanwhile, Nyali parliamentary aspirant, Said Abdalla, expressed optimism about the presidential visit, noting that it had brought hope to residents through efforts to address the long-standing land question. Abdalla believes that by 2027, land issues will no longer be used as a campaign tool, allowing leaders to focus on other development issues during political rallies.
