By The Weekly Vision
Residents of Chirima in Tiwi, Kwale County, are protesting the alleged illegal seizure of 1.5 acres of their land by an unidentified developer. The land, Plot No. 331, is part of the 960-acre Diani Complex, where previous titles were annulled to address ownership disputes.
Local resident Hamisi Mwajao claims that the Diani Complex project, originally started by land grabbers, was halted after locals petitioned the government. The new adjudication process, begun in 2016 and was stopped in 2022 due to a lack of funds. Despite this, some are using fake titles to claim the land. Mwajao insists these documents are invalid and urges anyone with claims to pursue them legally.
Juma Amri criticized the use of police protection for land grabbers and warned that the community would defend their land vigorously. He called for government intervention to address ongoing land injustices and accused developers of creating conflict between police and residents. Mohammed Mwinyi Mwanyumba lamented that ancestral lands are being given to outsiders, forcing locals into squatter-like conditions. He and others are frustrated by local leaders’ inaction and call on President William Ruto to address these issues.
Youth leader Juma Matata affirmed that the younger generation is determined to safeguard their rights and will not be misled by land grabbers as previous generations might have been.
