After a social media photo went viral claiming that land in the Kilifi Central Business District (CBD), had been sold off to an investor by Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), top officials of the branch have come out with their guns blazing.
Led by MYWO branch chairperson Witness Tsuma, they denied having sold the multi-million prime land near Kilifi County Referral hospital.
The officials who were reacting from reports posted on social leaders by women leaders both elected and aspirants said the property was rented out and is being paid Sh50,000 per month but has never been sold.
Speaking to journalists in Malindi, they said there is evidence that the land still belongs to Maendeleo ya Wanawake organization and the funds paid were deposited in the organization’s account.
Also Read
- Pandora Papers Expose Kenyatta Offshore Empire
- DP Ruto Team Leak Letter Addressed To Catholic Bishops
- Matiang’i Cracks Fireworks At KPLC
The officials have since been summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to shed light on the matter this week. They vowed to fully cooperate and give out the information being sought.
Ms Tsuma said the reports going round the social media for the past week claiming that the land had been sold off was false.
“The land in question belongs to MYWO Kilifi County. The executive council sat down and resolved the rent it out as it has stayed for many years without benefiting the women,” she said.
She further added that three years ago, they were summoned by the then CEC Member for Health Dr Anisa Omar who told them to clear the bush within the property as it had become a hideout for criminal gangs and other illegal activities.
“We got two tenants, one decided to help us by setting up a fence and would come up with a business, another one who is the owner of Baobab agreed to clear the land and told us he would establish a parking and charge those who will park their vehicles and pay them rent monthly,” she said.
She said that as an organization, they followed the due process as required by law and wondered why there were allegations that the land was sold.
She said the whole issue arose after she showed interest in contesting for the woman rep position in Kilifi County.
“If a woman rep is from Maendeleo ya Wanawake she will be able to help all sub-counties in Kilifi, that’s why these women called me and resolved that I should vie for the position of women rep for the benefit of women,” she said.
Ms Tsuma said even with the truth remaining open, the whole issue has now been turned into a political fight. She urged those who want to contest to challenge her on the Ballot instead of spreading false information.
Also Read
- Kilifi MCA On Hunger Strike In Solidarity With Starving Residents
- Kilifi: Multi-agency Team Rescues Stuck Baby Elephant
- Governor Kingi Launches Ksh. 20 Million Water Project To Ease Kilifi Drought
She said they would go to meet the DCI because they have not sold the land and will go with all the documents of their agreement with the tenant.
Malindi Sub-county MYWO chair Riziki Baya on her part assured those complaining that the property was still intact, only that it had been rented out.
“We got an investor who wanted to rent the land and set up a parking lot, but we have not sold it so the women who are complaining should stop let them know that the land was rented out each month we get Sh50,000 and the money is in the bank,” she said.
She said whoever wants to see the bank statements are available for anybody to confirm because no one took the money.
Mama Asha Solo who is the MYWO Treasurer and who is also claiming to be among the founders of the property said the whole issue was being politicized by a few women leaders who were against Ms Tsuma’s ambition to vie for the woman rep position in the oncoming general elections.
“The land was rented, it cannot be sold at Sh150,000 because it is a prime area, these are the ones afraid of politics let them come up with their own policies and say what they will do to the people once elected into office,” she said.
Also Read
- Pandora Papers Expose Kenyatta Offshore Empire
- DP Ruto Team Leak Letter Addressed To Catholic Bishops
- Matiang’i Cracks Fireworks At KPLC
Ms Solo said some of the elected leaders have failed in their leadership since they were elected into office and now they have been taken aback by Ms Tsuma’s continued increasing support among Kilifi people.
She said MYWO has a disciplinary committee that goes all the way to the national level which can recommend action to be taken against them.
“We shall go to the DCI, listen to them whether they will arrest us or hang us it’s upon us. We are fed up with people calling us all sort of names from criminals because of something we have not done,” she said.
She said the agreement for rent was signed in August and the client paid three months deposit of Sh150,000.
