Politicians inciting invasion of lands in Kilifi - Muhuri

Muslims for Humans Rights has raised a red flag over the invasion of private lands in Kilifi County.

Speaking in Malindi, Muhuri director Khelef Khalifa said politicians are inciting residents to invade people’s lands for selfish reasons.

“In most cases, they use the false accusations of absentee landlords even when the lands have owners living or administering their lands,” said Khalifa.

He said most of those whose lands are invaded have title deeds issued by the British colonial regime.

In most cases, Khalifa said, police cannot help because their hands are tied due to “pressure from above”.

“Police must do their work and protect both lives and property. They are being pushed by powerful people in government but we tell them no one is above the law,” said Khalifa.

Khalifa spoke after a family in the Kanyangwa area of Malindi sought their help following the invasion of their 35.5-acre land by a man who they say used to work for their great grandfathers.

Amir Ahmed, who married into the family that owns the land, on Wednesday said Said Abdalla and his father Abdalla Karisa wa Tsuma, have been subdividing their land and selling some of them to unsuspecting buyers.

The land was registered under Hamid bin Salim bin Khalfan who transferred it to three heirs including Zeyana bint Hamid bin Salim, Salima binti Hamid bin Salim and Khadija bint Hamid bin Salim, according to documents seen by the Star.

The three heirs, now deceased, also have many heirs under them.

However, Said and Abdalla both denied invading the land saying they were both born there together with Said’s grandfather Karisa wa Tsuma, who died and was buried on the same land.

The two said Karisa wa Tsuma lived on the land since before Kenya got independence.

“This land was subdivided in 1964 and we given our portion,” Abdalla told the Star on the phone Friday.

He said the heirs to the land refused to sign documents to show that they were given a portion of the land by the masters they worked for.

Said added he gave birth to his four children Ali, Swabrina, Shumi and Abdalla on that land.

“I have been living here where I stand all my life. I buried my grandfather here. First, my uncle Kahindi wa Karisa wa Tsuma died in 2005, then my grandmother Sidi Ngonyo wa Karisa wa Tsuma in 2008, then my grandfather in 2015,” said Said.

According to Ahmed, trouble started in March when threats that people want to invade the land started emerging.

“But we ignored because we knew the land has been fenced, has a genuine title deed and we live inside, so no one would dare invade. We were wrong,” said Ahmed.

He rears goats, chickens and other animals on the land and has employed people to look after the animals.

He said they have been having tussles with Said and his father Abdalla, which have been reported at the Malindi police station five times.

“We have five different OB numbers,” said Ahmed.

Kilifi County police commander Fatuma Hadi told the Star on the phone she is yet to get any briefing on the matter and would enquire about it.

“I have asked for details of the case. Once I get them, I will tell you,” said Hadi.

However, by the time of going to press, she was yet to get back to the Star.