[Source: Daily Nation, by Kalume Kazungu]
After 56 years of waiting, members of the Boni minority group who live in Lamu County have finally received title deeds for their land.
On Tuesday, the Lamu County government issued a total of 6,232 title deeds to residents of ten villages in the region, out of which 3,232 went to the Boni.
There was joy and celebrations at Mokowe shortly after the Boni received the land documents for the first time in history.
They are a forest community who traditionally depend on hunting, gathering of wild fruits and harvesting honey.
Most of the Boni land is situated within Boni Forest where the government in 2015 launched a multi-agency security Operation Linda Boni meant to flush out Al-Shabaab militants believed to be hiding there.
The operation still continues to date.
Those interviewed by the Nation in Mokowe on Tuesday said they were happy that the county and national governments had finally recognised their right to own land after decades of waiting.
A section of the Boni land borders the Sh2.5 trillion Lamu Port -South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor project which is being set up in Kililana, Lamu West.
The has made the Boni land to be a major target by grabbers and tycoons who had already begun frustrating the community while armed with fake title deeds.
Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha on locals to avoid selling off their land immediately they get the title deeds.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by Kalume Kazungu]
