The National Assembly has been urged to safeguard the ancestral rights and livelihoods of the Kiwayu Island community in Lamu East, following reports of illegal encroachment and fraudulent land allocations within the Kiunga Marine National Reserve.

Lamu East MP Hon. Ruweida Mohamed on Wednesday, 5^th  November 2025 petitioned the House on behalf of the residents of Kiwayu Island, calling for recognition of their traditional and cultural rights as environmental custodians and key stakeholders in marine conservation.

“Kiwayu Island has, for generations, been home to an indigenous community whose livelihoods depend on artisanal fishing, mangrove conservation, and sustainable marine resource management,” Hon. Ruweida told the House.

She raised concern that private developers had encroached upon the protected marine reserve, carrying out unauthorised development and commercial activities that violate conservation laws and threaten the community’s survival.

“There are reports of fraudulent title deeds and irregular land allocations purporting to grant private ownership within the marine reserve,” she said, adding that the illegal activities had caused marine habitat degradation, loss of coral reefs, and destruction of mangrove forests.

The legislator further warned that the encroachments risked displacing the Kiwayu community and destroying cultural heritage sites that have coexisted harmoniously with the marine environment for centuries.

Through her Petition, Hon. Ruweida called for:

1. Recognition and protection of the traditional and cultural rights of the Kiwayu Island community;
2. Investigation into encroachment and fraudulent land allocations within the Kiunga Marine National Reserve;
3. Revocation of any irregular title deeds and removal of illegal developers;
4. Development of a community-based co-management framework involving the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Ministry of Environment, and the Kiwayu community; and
5. Strengthening of marine reserve governance systems to prevent future encroachments.

The Petition was formally committed to the Departmental Committee on Public Petitions for consideration.

Committee Chairperson Hon. Muchangi Karemba (Runyenjes) assured the House that the matter would receive urgent attention.

“Now that the Petition is properly before the House, I wish to inform the Member and the people of Lamu East that we will expedite it,” said Hon. Muchangi.

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