Gov’t Evicts 1,401 Families On Disputed Land Despite Delayed Re-Settlement
On December 3, 1,401 residents in Kilifi’s Maweni Mtwapa Settlement Scheme were evicted from their homes due to a land dispute in the area.
The dispute over the tract of land, which is estimated to be more than 161 acres, is between the villagers and wealthy prominent persons who they accuse of attempting to seize the land.
The residents claim that the land was mapped out in 2018 under the Maweni Settlement Initiative and that a directive was issued to provide them with title deeds.
However, only 15 of 1,401 deeds were issued, and each beneficiary was to receive a 50 x 100 plot.
It was discovered that due process was not followed, since some people were not assigned the correct parcels, and some did not receive letters of offer.
WANANCHI WAFURUSHWA MAWENI
— tv47ke (@Tv47Newske) December 3, 2024
Jumla ya familia 1401 zafurushwa Maweni, Kilifi.
Mabwanyeye wamesemekana kunyakua Zaidi ya ekari 161.
Wakazi wa eneo hilo hawajapokea hati miliki.
Mgogoro wa ardhi umeripotiwa kusababisha kifo eneo hilo.#TV47Matukio@ruga_eval pic.twitter.com/bIb0CFYvGO
The ruling body, which was in charge of charting the area at the time, was eventually disbanded and replaced by a new one.
However, they allege the newly formed organization was made up of local politicians, whom they blame for the current land predicament.
Consequently, the dissatisfied land owners went to court seeking conservatory orders to suspend the issuance of the title deeds, citing an alleged illegitimate land titling process in which strangers and non-locals were assigned land parcels.
The locals received their desire when High Court Judge Chacha Mwita granted conservatory orders prohibiting the Ministry of Lands, National Land Commission, Kilifi County Lands and Settlements Officer, Kilifi Land Registrar, and Kilifi County Government from tampering with the land.
The arguments have culminated in clashes, which recently claimed the life of a local kid. Human rights organizations have expressed worry over the situation, requesting the appropriate authorities to look into it.
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“We are suffering. Our youth are suffering. We are being forced to look for other places to rent after the eviction. We want to request the government to come in and assist us,” one of the residents decried.
The current development appears to contradict previous Lands Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru’s vow to find a long-term solution to the settlement program, which has been the focus of dispute for decades.
The CS had pledged to solve the problem of cartels who were notorious for evicting poor locals using forged documents.
It remains unclear what will happen to the evicted residents as they ponder their next steps.
Gov’t Evicts 1,401 Families On Disputed Land Despite Delayed Re-Settlement
