Mutula’s Emali title deeds reopen Makueni’s bigger land and environment questions

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr's issuance of title deeds for public facilities in Emali has reignited discussions over land ownership, settlement, and environmental issues in the county. On September 30, 2026, the title deeds covered six sites, including Emali Level 3 Hospital, Kwa Kamba Hill land, cemeteries, a green space, a market, and a dumpsite. These actions come amid ongoing concerns from residents about water, infrastructure, and other local needs.

For Mutula, the title deeds aim to safeguard land designated for public use. However, many Makueni residents question the timeline for acquiring secure land ownership and addressing environmental challenges that have persisted for years. Ngai Ndethya, a 21,000-hectare Game Reserve, is one of the most contentious cases. The county government has been collaborating with the Kenya Wildlife Service to strike a balance between settlement and conservation.

The plan initially allocated 13,000 hectares for human settlement and 7,279 hectares for wildlife conservancy, with the latter remaining public land. Despite the announcement, the county's project-tracking system still lists the provision of title deeds for Ngai Ndethya Settlement Scheme as an ongoing project with a budget of Ksh574,500.

The land question in Makueni is multifaceted, encompassing not only the secure ownership of public property but also determining who can legally occupy land and how communities and wildlife can share a scarce landscape. In September 2026, residents of Siembeni expressed worry about elephants destroying crops, prompting Mutula to engage KWS on measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

The county has previously partnered with Tsavo Trust on initiatives such as electric fencing, water provision, community participation, and conservation education.

However, the Ngai Ndethya situation is more complex, as residents require land and security, while conservation authorities must protect wildlife corridors and habitats. The Thange oil spill, which occurred in 2015, further exemplifies the county's struggle with environmental grievances. The spill affected the Thange River Basin, leading to claims over damaged land, water sources, and livelihoods.

In July 2025, the Environment and Land Court ruled in favor of thousands of residents, ordering damages and environmental restoration. A subsequent ruling in July 2026 involved the Thange Farmers Community Based Organisation, Kenya Pipeline Company, and the National Environment Management Authority.

While the county has addressed immediate consequences of the environmental crisis, such as providing clean water through the Thange Integrated Water Project, residents question whether this project and broader environmental restoration efforts are truly equivalent. The Emali title deeds symbolize the county government's attempt to secure public land, but many areas remain plagued by unresolved settlement, ownership, wildlife conflict, and environmental damage.

The significance of the title deeds in Emali may lie not only in the documents themselves but also in whether similar land and environmental disputes elsewhere in Makueni move towards lasting resolutions.