More than 1,000 families residing on an 11,000-acre disputed piece of land now want the government to compensate and relocate them.
The families are embroiled in a land dispute with the Kenya Defense Forces in Mariakani area in Kilifi County.
They told journalists that the army barracks were brought to them by the government which the community responded by ceding off 48 acres as requested but the matter later degenerated to harassment and intimidation with the army laying claim on the entire 11,000 acres.
Mrs Mche Kenga, 64 years of age, narrated the origin of the land dispute saying that in 1987, the government approached the community with the aim of constructing an army barracks in the area which residents obliged.
She added that residents were then paid for their houses and promised to be relocated to Magarini Sb County which is more than 100 kilometres away, a thing that never happened.
“They came to our village which we called Karimbo at Mnyenzeni area and even changed the name to Mugoya. They even erected a fence around their property on 48 acres but they shocked us when they requested that we vacate the remainder of the land with a promise that they will relocate us,” she said.
She added that the government promised to provide each family with 12 acres of land in Magarini Sub County and also construct social amenities such as schools, hospitals and build each family a house but that never came to pass.
“I was born here and I have no other place to call home. Every time they come they threaten us and tell us to leave yet we have no other place to call home. We don’t know where to go. They don’t want us to develop our land, even building places of worship is a problem,” added Mrs Kenga.
Mr Kahindi Amani said that efforts to get the matter resolved have hit head wind as politicians are afraid of tackling the problem.
“They frequently harass us and conduct raids and demolish structures, they have dug a trench around the land. We have followed up the matter with the authorities including with our former governor Amason Kingi but nothing fruitful has come out of the engagement,” he said.
Mrs Komani Karisa narrated how she accompanied her grandmother to Kilifi town in 1987 when the government had commenced the process of acquiring the land saying that she was given Sh. 600 as bus fare back to Mnyenzeni village with a promise that they will be relocated to Magarini to pave way for the army barracks.
“I was young when I accompanied my grandmother to Kilifi town where she was given Sh. 600 as bus fare with the promise that she will be given alternative land, it is now 35 years and we are still waiting for that relocation,” she said.
Mr Mwanyule Jefa said that constant threats of evictions have rendered residents poor since they cannot invest or develop their parcels of land for the fear of demolition by KDF officers who patrol the area.
“I missed education because of the constant harassment and the KDF officers have been torturing some of us to a point that many have run away,” he said.
