At least 200 families were left homeless after their homes were demolished in the Msabaha area of Malindi sub-county in Kilifi county.
On Thursday, the angry resident demonstrated against the demolition. Reports indicate that a tycoon, who was accompanied by security personnel, raided the village at 3 am and demolished all the buildings leaving the locals in the cold. The victims claimed they have title deeds for the land issued to them during former President Mwai Kibaki’s regime.
Local leaders led by Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi and Ganda Ward MCA Oscar Wanje are among the people who rushed to the scene to console the families and condemned the act of the demolition in the area which has a pending case in court coming for hearing on November 7.
Elisha Gona a victim said the tycoon aided by heavily armed security personnel raided their home at 3 am and ordered everyone out before graders demolished all the buildings.
He said there were no eviction orders despite the fact that there is a pending court case regarding the disputed land with the tycoon who is of Indian origin.“We want President Ruto to intervene and resolve this matter amicably because what is happening is injustice,” he said.
Kadenge Nyanje an elderly man who has lived there since he was born in 1963 said his father bought the land in 1950 and no one has ever come to claim ownership of the land.
He wondered how a tycoon would come and say the land belonged to him yet they have title deeds.
“I took a loan to construct a modern house because I have stayed for many years without a good house, now the house has been demolished my children are still in school, they want to eat and wear clothes and I have a huge loan to pay, ” he said.
He said the government should come clear and state if the title deeds issued are fake so that they return them. Kadzo Thoya a widow said she was tortured by the police with her children and then they demolished all the houses in her home,
She wondered how people could do injustice to such a widow yet she has a title deed for the place.
“My two grandchildren fainted and now am left alone with a lot of problems I do not know where to go and how I will survive sleeping in the cold, ” she said.
The MP Who had earlier helped the victims with foodstuffs condemned the demolition and revealed that they had a meeting with all lawyers from both parties who said they were not aware of the eviction.
She said the eviction was illegal and unacceptable adding that there were cartels who were behind the inhuman evictions of locals.
“Why was there demolition for my people here in Malindi if there are cartels let them be warned that this has to come to an end, ”she said.
She said plot number 285 which had case E41 of 2020 is the one that the tycoon warn and got eviction orders and not the area which was demolished.
The case E8 of 2021 was still in court and the next hearing was November 7 which did not warrant any demolition.
“I want justice for my people this case will not end here if I do not get an explanation on the decision of the security committee I will take the matter forward,” he said.
The MCA on his part said it was sad that the demolition was done by authorities who did not verify the eviction orders.He said the lawyer was not served nor did the locals get any notice that there would be an eviction.
“It’s sad that the police came at night when the women and children were asleep and begun demolishing houses, we condemn the demolition,” he said.
Elisha Komora the lawyer of the victims said the matter is pending in court and there were no orders to demolish houses.
