By Collins Wanzallah
A Madrasa teacher in Nairobi is voicing his distress after his home was reportedly raided by individuals he claims are affiliated with the local mosque committee. Ustadh Khatwib Haji, who has served at Liwo Mosque in Langata for over 15 years, alleges that a scheme has been devised by certain mosque leaders to evict him from his residence without settling his outstanding salary arrears.
Accompanied by his wife, Mariam Wanje Ziro, Haji recounted that in December of last year, a group stormed their home and seized their belongings in an apparent attempt to force their eviction. “They claimed to be auctioneers, stating I owed them Ksh 570,000, of which I had only paid Ksh 19,000. However, the houses at the mosque are not rented, so I do not have any debt,” he explained.
Haji stated that during the raid, the intruders took important documents belonging to his children, including their birth and academic records, as well as household items such as utensils, chairs, and mattresses. He reported the incident to Langata Police Station and the local chief’s office, where it was documented in an occurrence book (OB) and assigned OB number 40/18/12/23. However, he expressed frustration that no action had been taken to apprehend the raiders.
Before joining Liwo Mosque, Haji was a Madrasa teacher in Malindi, Kilifi County, and was brought to the mosque by one of the committee members. Since his arrival, he has been dedicated to teaching the Quran to many children, including around 15 from underprivileged backgrounds, who were residing with him. The recent raid has left them in a challenging situation, as many of the tools and resources they relied on were taken away.
One member of the mosque committee, who requested anonymity, confirmed that a raid did occur at Haji’s residence and indicated that the police are currently investigating the matter at Langata Police Station.
