The National Assembly Public Petitions Committee chaired by Hon. Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), conducted a fact-finding visit of Kilifi North Constituency as a result of a petition filed by the area Member of Parliament Hon. Owen Baya . The petition was based on the delayed adjudication and settlement of residents in Mnarani, Misufini, Vibandani, and Kibarani Sub-Locations, as well as Tezo Location in Kilifi County.

The Committee started their visit by paying courtesy calls to various Government officials including the County Commissioner Mr. Josephat Biwott, Kilifi County Governor His Excellency Gideon Mung’aro, and Deputy Governor Her Excellency Flora Chibule.

Members were told that the land under dispute originally belonged to the Mijikenda community but was leased to Lily White, a Colonial Master, toward the end of the Colonial Era. Subsequently, the late Hon. John Keen took control of the land through the Coast Development Company for agricultural purposes. He later invited residents to buy shares in his company, equivalent to one plot of land each. Many residents, along with churches, schools, and mosques, paid for these shares through various banks and representatives.

The residents' prayer to the Committee is  to secure ownership of the parcels they had paid for, investigate the legality of the Coast Development Company, and revoke its title to favor the residents.

However, concerns were raised regarding the origin of some owners' title deeds, as some were descendants of foreigners with unclear allocations. The issue of displacing locals in favor of absentee landlords was also highlighted. The petitioners urged the Government to address the plight of the locals and compensate absentee landlords.