Over three thousands residents living at Kajajini Kasorina area in Malindi district stormed provincial administration offices on Wednesday paralyzing activities, protesting against land grabbing by some of provincial administrators and a certain tycoon in the area.
The residents who were joined by their children during the demonstration claimed that the area chief Nicodemus Mwayele, Counselor Ken Otieno and District officer Josephine Njenga were siding with a certain tycoon in the area to grab their ancestral land.
Led by their spokesman Mr. Julius Mkusi the irate residents said already the three government officers were cooperation with the tycoon of Hindu national to conduct a survey in the disputed land plot number, 507,508 and 509 which sparked violence in the area.
Mkusi told journalists outside Malindi DCs office that “Imagine the tycoon has gone to the extent of bringing surveyors in our land without having a word with us because he is being shielded by some provincial administrators." claims which the three officers refuted.
Counselor Ken Otien said allegations made by the residents were unfound and that were just out to tarnish their reputation noting that the claimed tycoon is ready to give locals one of the disputed plots.
“We had met the tycoon with representatives of the locals and agreed to conduct survey on the land so that those who fall in the disputed land can be compensated and in fact the land owner who have title to the land is ready to give out one of the plots to locals so that they can share amongst themselves,” said counselor Ken.
He said some youths with their own interests of selling out the disputed land to other people are trying to bring out issues to stop the owner repossessing back his land so that they can continue with their deal.
But Mkusi insisted that if the tycoon is guaranteed to evict them over 5,000 people living at Milano,Msoloni,Mwanashungi, and Gahaleni will have no where to call home.
He called on the government through Malindi district commissioner to intervene to ensure the issue is addressed and solved amicably.
They also demanded release of ten people who were arrested by police early this week when they tried to repulse surveyors who had gone with some youths to survey the disputed land causing injuries to one person.
However Malindi district commissioner Joshua Nkanatha addressed the demonstrators who had vowed not to set out a foot from DC compound until they are given audience by him.
He said that survey of the disputed land was suspended until the issue is resolved by the two parties.
Nkanatha told Kajajini residents to select their representative who will join DCs representative to search the disputed plots at the lands offices to find the genuine owner in a bid to solve the matter.
“We have decided to sent two people from my office and your representative to search the disputed land at the lands offices so that they can come and tell us who genuinely own the land before I chair a public Baraza in the area and tell you the way forward,” said DC Nkanatha.
The DC warned youths who had threatened to punish some of his juniors for claims of siding with the claimed tycoon to grab locals land.
He said whoever will be found threatening government officers will be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
“As much as you are fighting for your rights I don’t want to hear again some of you threatening my officers I will deal perpendicularly with you because such thing can not be tolerated and you should know that is not how we can work with you,” he warned.
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