Around 3,000 families in Gazi village, Kwale County, spent the night in the cold after their homes were demolished yesterday by an angry group of hooded men, with police protection.
The men, reportedly transported from neighbouring Mombasa County, descended on the houses armed with machetes and other crude weapons while the residents were still asleep in the early hours of the morning.
The families, who have been living on squatter land, were evicted from 306 acres of land donated by the Msambweni Development Company, which is associated with the family of founding President Jomo Kenyatta.
A stranded resident, Ms Saum Mohammed, said she was born in the area and had given birth to eight children there, but now two of her houses had been demolished by the hired goons. She said she had nowhere to go and no one to turn to, as the entire system had failed her family.
“I am so surprised that I am not among those who are supposed to be issued with titles. Where will I take my children? Where will we stay with the pounding rain?” she protested.
According to victims and local leaders, the land was supposed to be divided among all the squatters living there, but they now strongly believe that some politicians are out to exploit them.
“Is this right? Are we not voters? Are we really Kenyans, or does our vote count? I believe that some government officials have taken advantage of the situation,” said Emmanuel Kahindi.
Some residents wailed as children clung to their backs, not knowing what was to come. Others watched from a distance, perhaps intimidated by the armed police who had lorries ready to take anyone who tried to stop the demolitions.
A resident, Mr John Muhunzi, said that the gang also stole their belongings, including electronics, right in front of the police, who were heavily armed.
They blamed their area MP, Msambweni’s Feisal Bader, who also hails from the area, for failing to show up when the perpetrators attacked.
“What is happening is a total disregard for the law. If what is being done is right, why should the government use more than two hundred goons armed with machetes to harm and steal from us while the police stand by and watch? They have stolen our phones, our televisions, and many other things,” he wondered.
The demolitions occurred just two days after the Senate Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources asked landlords and the police to halt demolitions across the country.
On Saturday afternoon, the committee chairman, Mombasa Senator Mr Mohamed Faki, said that those seeking to evict squatters should first provide alternative land for them to settle.
Speaking after hearing petitions from tenants-at-will and squatters from Mombasa County at the Kenya School of Government, Mombasa, Faki said evictions should be stopped to allow for peaceful dispute resolution, urging the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Mr Kipchumba Murkomen, to intervene.
“We are also asking the Cabinet Secretary for Interior to stop evictions until the petitions are resolved,” he said.
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Coastland activist Mr Nagib Shamsan had indicated that absentee landlords have resurfaced and are threatening to evict squatters as part of pressure on the government to purchase their land parcels.
“The land question at the Coast needs urgent answers. The Senate should act as a catalyst and save squatters from being evicted, as absentee landlords have resurfaced after hearing that the government has money to buy land to settle squatters,” he urged.
Mr Shamsan also called for an audit by the National Land Commission (NLC) to ensure that title deeds were legally acquired.
Present at the hearing were Senators Joe Nyutu, Mariam Omar, Ms Miraj Abdillahi, NLC chairman Gershom Otachi, and commissioner Prof James Tuitoek.
Meanwhile, Faki stated that no funds had yet been allocated by the government to acquire land from absentee landlords, as the latest supplementary budget did not include the necessary provisions.
“You have spoken of Sh1.5 billion set aside to buy land to settle squatters. However, in the supplementary budget, no money has been allocated for this. These are just verbal statements,” Faki said.
During his recent tour of the Coast region, President William Ruto stated that he had appointed a committee, led by Mining CS Hassan Joho, to identify the land parcels the government will purchase to settle squatters in the Coast region.
At the same time, the residents accused the security forces of pretending to fight the goons while secretly using the same youths for illegal activities.
As these events unfolded, Mr Murkomen was in Mombasa for the first day of his Coast tour and is expected to visit Kwale today to discuss, among other issues, the machete-wielding youths who have spread fear throughout the region.
Gazi village is known for fishing, mangrove farming, and its historical significance, where German and British soldiers fought. The area has always stirred emotions concerning land ownership, particularly following the occupation of the expansive parcel linked to the Kenyatta family.
