(Ecofin Agency) - Over the last few days, the land issue has been brought up on various occasions in the debates preceding the Kenyan presidential elections which are to take place on Aug 8, 2017. The opposing party accused the administration of President Kenyatta, who is to visit the six counties of the coastal part of the country, of ignoring land injustices in the region.

President Uhuru Kenyatta responded by reminding that members of the coalition, the "Super Alliance Nasa" as it known, did not to tackle the same issues that he is being accused of ignoring, while they were in the government. He referred to Raila Odinga and James Orengo, both former Prime Minister and Minister of Lands respectively. Coastal counties have been suffering land grabbing (by foreigners) for many years. As a result, locals became frustrated as they property was reduced considerably.

"Let me tell you that if you wait for President Kenyatta to deal with land issues, you are like a passenger waiting for a train at the airport", said Amason Kingi of the Orange Democratic Movement. Here again, The Kenyatta administration recalling that thousands of land titles have been issued since 2013 and similarly thousands of people who did not have a land have been since relocated.

With 1.7 million voters, coastal counties will play a major role in the upcoming elections. They should leverage on this to bring to light the multiple issues related to land that they experience.