Kanjaocha residents in Samburu, Kwale county, have raised fears of losing their ancestral land to an unknown livestock investor.
They claim some people from Kilifi county welcomed the investor at the height of the dispute over the boundary between the two counties.
Residents said for three years, the investor has continued to invade their ancestral land.
The dispute affects more than 1,000 families.
Led by their chairman Kaingu Teka, residents said their lives have been turned upside down as the private developer releases thousands of livestock to graze on their ancestral land and farms, causing crop devastation and losses.
"The investor normally releases thousands of cows and camels daily to graze on our lands and farms," he said.
He claimed the livestock keeper occasionally brings colleagues' camels to graze.
Teka said efforts to seek audience with the investor and resolve the issue have been unsuccessful since they face hostility and threats.
He said the dispute has heightened tension among residents worried of potential land grabbing.
They claim the investor has taken a large portion of their ancestral land and is encroaching further rendering residents homeless.
Teka said the injustice has increased hunger and poverty because residents are unable to farm and establish development projects.
The chairman said previously, residents lost 1,000 acres to another private developer.
Teka said they have been fought by land grabbers and it is time to stand for their rights.
He said it is unfair for someone to come from nowhere and deny residents access to their ancestral land.
Nyanje Mdoe urged President William Ruto to intervene, adding that the investor is working in cahoots with some government officials to deprive them of their rights.
He said residents have nowhere to run to and they fear if the problem is not resolved it will escalate.
"We have been pinned to the wall for so long; we respect the laws of this country, but if this continues, we will have to retaliate," Mdoe said.
He urged the government to take immediate action and have the livestock investor return their ancestral land.
Mdoe said since the private developer came, they have known nothing but chaos and sadness.
He said they are spending sleepless nights not knowing what the investor is planning to do next.
Masha Kazungu said they have been left with little space for development.
He said they are unable to graze on their ancestral land because the investor locks them out.
Kazungu said they no longer feel safe and the government has abandoned them.
Ng'ombe Kauli said women are normally threatened by the livestock investor's workers while fetching firewood and water.
She said they can't effectively fend for their families due to the dispute.
"We used to travel deep into our ancestral land in search of firewood, vegetables and for farming, but that privilege has gone," Kauli said.
She said several sources of water are often invaded by livestock, thus contaminating the commodity.
Kauli said the water has become scarce because residents have to compete with hundreds of camels.
She alleged that crops can't grow since camels destroy them.
Jefa Benson said their lives have been equally affected because they rely on charcoal burning and are unable to effectively continue with the business because ancestral lands have been taken.
Ndzomba Nyawa wants the national government to give residents title deeds to end historical land injustices.
He said the act of residents living like squatters on their ancestral lands is heartbreaking and demeaning.
Nyawa said the Kenya Kwanza government promised to end land injustices in the coastal region.
"During the campaigns, President Ruto promised to address the issue of historical injustices. Please keep your word," he said.
