Six injured, cars damaged in fierce Kilifi land clash

Mzungu Nyoka (right) ponders his next move as he seats next to what used to be his pajero car after squarters invaded his farm set his car on fire and vandalized three other vehicles at Mwatundo village in Kanamai within Kilifi on Saturday. [Photo by Gideon Maundu/STANDARD]

Kilifi, Kenya: Six people were injured and three cars damaged after squatters clashed over a 200-acre land at Majengo Kanamai in Kikambala division, Kilifi County.

A man claiming a portion of the land and who is reportedly a licensed firearms holder lost his gun after he was hit with a stone, leading to the conflict that caused the bloody clash.

Police later arrested 15 people linked to the chaos after about 40 people arrived on motorbikes and tried to evict a group that was subdividing the disputed parcel, a subject of a High Court case in Malindi.

Authorities reported that one car was torched and two others were stoned during the chaos. Senior assistant County Commissioner Paul Rotich said police have launched investigation to establish the motive of the gang.

Kilifi County Commissioner Mr Albert Kobia said they suspected the gang had come from Chonyo division and linked it to Mombasa Republican Council (MRC).

Inciting locals

“We are holding 15 people following the conflict and we suspect they are MRC members," Kobia said. "MRC is very active in Kilifi and is notorious for inciting locals to invade land."

Early this year, more than 1,000 squatters invaded the parcel of land, and sub-divided it amongst themselves.

The squatters had claimed they were descendants of 49 families that were evicted from the land in the 60s to pave way for Government projects, which have never been implemented.

Operating under the umbrella of Mwatundo Community Based Group, the squatters armed themselves with machetes and hoes and invaded the parcel of land claiming they were blocking influential people from grabbing it.

The parcel of land is opposite Umoja Rubber Factory and squatters have been protesting against alleged grabbers who they accused of sub-dividing and selling the land bit by bit over the years.