Families forced out of land as houses demolished

Over 50 residents of Matsangoni village, Kilifi North, have been rendered homeless after their houses were demolished by unknown persons following a land dispute.

The demolishers, who the residents termed as hired goons, were protected by police as they carried out the exercise.

The residents claim that over ten armed police officers aboard a GK vehicle and the over thirty goons descended on their property Thursday, October 13 at 5:00 am without any notice.

The goons were reportedly armed with crude weapons including pangas and machetes to scare away the residents should they oppose the demolition exercise.

According to a resident, Lilian Katana Mgomba, the houses were brought down despite most of the residents being asleep, threatening their lives and especially those of children.

Ms Mgomba claimed that police threatened to shoot him after he tried resisting the demolition process and question on whose order they were acting on.

Speaking to the press, Ms Mgomba’s son, Brown Katana Mgomba, said they have lived on the disputed piece of land the whole of his life and that they would not leave.

He claimed that the dispute is a calculated conspiracy by selfish individuals who are out to grab the 12-acre parcel.

The victims now want the government and the National Land Commission (NLC) to intervene and offer a lasting solution.

Efforts to reach Kilifi County Commissioner, Charles Keter, were futile as his phone went unanswered.