Kilifi, KENYA: There is tension at Timboni -Shariani area in Kilifi county following a land dispute where residents are accusing  private developers of wanting to grab their land.

On Tuesday, residents in the area clashed with police officers whom the residents have accused of siding with the developers; leading to  closure of a primary school and a few arrests.

Timboni Primary School; which is found on the land, was  closed indefinitely after angry parents stormed the school claiming they are tired of land being taken by grabbers.

Speaking to Baraka FM over the phone Mr. Kenneth Kiriba a Timboni resident, said properties were destroyed during the tussle between residents and police.

“These are land grabbers disguising as private developers from one of the leading parastatals at the Coast, wanting to grab our land,” said Mr. Kiriba.

The residents are saying they have presented a case in court and the person claiming to own the land has failed to show up more than three times.

“We have gone to court seeking further clarification about the issue, but they have failed to show up, and now they are using police and land dealers to grab our land”, added a Mr. Philemon Mwangira –Timboni resident.

According to the residents, they have lived on the piece of land for over 100 years where they have done a lot of investment.

The dispute has been reported to have been brewing for the past few months and the residents are appealing to Kilifi Governor Amason Jeffah Kingi and the Chairman National Land Commission (NLC) Dr. Mohammed Swazuri to intervene.

Kilifi, KENYA: Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has spread his party wings in the Coast Region by having welcomed Nominated Senator Emma Mbura who ditched Jubilee for Maendeleo Chap Chap.

Speaking in Rabai on Tuesday during the welcome party of Senator Mbura, Governor Mutua hailed Mbura for being a politician who is after development of the people of Rabai, which is inline with his party principles.

“I have been following up her work in Rabai She went all the way to bring incubators to help Kilifi residents , you might think she is the governor; these are the type of leaders Kenyans need.” Said Mutua.

On the other hand, Senator Mbura who is also vying for the Rabai MP seat, said she joined Maendeleo Chap Chap citing frustrations from Jubilee where she has been known to be very vocal when it comes to Coast politics.

“My Kaya elders advised me to look for another party after a politician who has been known to be an ODM die hard, has now shifted to Jubilee to come and frustrate my bid, they wanted a male candidate but I will defeat them,” Said Mbura.

Jubilee party has been said to be in favor of ODM Rabai Ward MCA Anthony Kenga to run for the seat,a matter that has been seen to frustrate the vibrant Coast politician.

“Up to last week, he was calling them thieves. All of a sudden, he has been picked. Why should I wait to be bundled out?” Added Mbura.

Governor Mutua also introduced Mombasa County Women Rep Aspirant Halima Mohamed and Lamu Women Rep aspirant Mariam Abubakar, who is also know to be very vocal in Lamu, together with other MCA aspirants as his team that will represent his party at the Coast.

The Senator, who is popular among Rabai women for her philanthropy has been said to be a good pick for Governor Mutua who is strengthening his party ahead of the August 2017 polls.

The party has been reaping big from Jubilee following the defection of several MCAs, MPs and governor aspirants.

Embu governor aspirant Lenny Kivuti is one of the high-profile politicians who jumped ship, reinforcing Mendeleo Chap Chap’s ratings.

Kilifi, KENYA: The National and County government of Kilifi has begun land adjudication process in Kilodi Settlement scheme in Mastangoni Ward, Kilifi North Sub County.

Kilifi County Surveyor David Kiama told Baraka FM on Monday that an estimated 185 hectares of land will be sub divided to squatters in Kilodi A and B settlement schemes.

Kiama said the team is expected to finish the whole process from establishment of the perimeter boundary in order to get the working area to publishing of the map, that will be used to process title deeds in one month time.

“A team of eleven officers from both the national and county government will conduct the exercise, starting today,” said Kiama.

“We want to take the shortest time possible and in one month we will be through with this exercise so the squatters should expect their title deeds in late March or Early April,” added Kiama.

According to Kiema, from Kilodi settlement scheme, the team will move to Mwezang’ombe settlement scheme.

Selina Maitha, Kilifi Deputy County Commissioner urged the community to ignore the previous survey which was conducted by a private surveyor hired by the County Government before the team was dispatched.

Maitha said some members in the settlement scheme claimed the exercise was not fare enough and a number of them could not be involved because they could not raise Sh. 300 for the committee members.

“Everyone must know that whatever happened in this area before today when we commence the adjudication process is null and void. We will not go by anything out of what the team on the ground will come up with,” said Ms. Maitha.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the community to settle disputes among themselves for the surveyors to have easy time when on the ground.

Ms. Maitha warned chiefs and their assistants to distance themselves from demanding for cash before they assist people during the process.

“No chief, assistant chief or the committee members is allowed to charge anything from anyone. People are not going to contribute money for your facilitation but your welfare will be taken care of by the team you will be working with,” she said.

However, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi  has on several occasions blamed the national government for its delay in issuance of title deeds to residents living in more than 25 Settlement Schemes and adjudication sections, that the county completed its survey and forwarded the list of beneficiaries to the Ministry of Land.

“There are still many challenges when it comes to handling land matters in Kilifi County. We have more than twenty five settlement schemes and adjudication sections that our department of land has worked on them but no response up to date,” Kingi was quoted saying in one of his public Barraza’s.

Kingi said that it is unfortunate that the national government through the Ministry of Lands is not working on the same pace with the County government and it is slow in releasing title deeds.