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Kwale residents protest against private developer grabbing community land

Kibwaga residents congregate at the community land allegedly grabbed by a private developer in June 17, 2024. (Photo: Shaban Omar)

By Mishi Gongo | Friday, June 21, 2024

Land grabbers also allegedly intimidate locals into giving in to their demands.

Hundreds of Kibwaga residents from Kwale County took to the streets to protest private developers grabbing part of their ancestral land reserved for community development.

The locals allege that the private developer grabbed one of the seven acres set aside to construct a mosque, a madrasa, and a school.

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They also claim the developer has started building a foundation to construct a perimeter wall around the land.

Speaking at the site on Thursday, the community chairperson, Juma Amir, said their efforts to stop their land from being grabbed have been futile.

He called on the county government to intervene in saving the community's land.

"We are concerned because the developer is not a resident. We are wondering how he got access to this land. He has even started setting up a perimeter wall. We have lost some of our land in this manner when a foreigner shows up and grabs our parcels," he lamented.

Juma added that the community, in 2018, drilled a well and had sought financial support from well-wishers to construct a mosque starting in July this year.

"If we allow everyone to have a piece of our land, then our children and grandchildren will be left with nothing. They will be foreigners in their ancestral home," Juma warned.

A local, Mwanaharusi Mbeto, added that the purpose of constructing the mosque, madrasa, and school is to give their children access to quality secular and religious education.

Mwanaharusi said that currently, children are forced to walk long distances to access schools and mosques, with the nearest being three kilometres away.

"This puts their lives at risk, considering the many motorbikes, which are mostly overspeeding," she cautioned.

The alleged foundation for the perimeter wall on community land in Kwale County. (Photo: Shaban Omar)

The alleged foundation for the perimeter wall being built on a community land in Kwale County. (Photo: Shaban Omar)

She said if the mosque, madrasa, and school project are not implemented, the community will continue to suffer.

"The project was all about helping our children and community and if it doesn't take place, it will result in an unstable future for generations to come," she said.

Another local, Khamis Bwika, said land-grabbing cases in Tiwi are rising, forcing residents to worry about their assets. He added that private developers are taking advantage of the community's calmness to deprive them of their rights.

Land grabbers also allegedly intimidate locals into giving in to their demands.

"They use their influence to take our land; we are not going to let these cases go unresolved. We are fed up with land injustices," he declared.

Bwika said they will follow the legal procedures to ensure that the land is returned to the community, where residents live like squatters on their ancestral land. Most families also live on small plots because of protracted land injustices.

Mombasa Branch Reform Network representative Amir Bejito concurred with the locals and said that the allegedly grabbed land belongs to them.

The human rights defender added that they will support the community to fight against land injustices and ensure their dream project is successful.

Efforts by The Eastleigh Voice to reach the developer for a comment were futile.