Kaya elders unveil plan to stop killing of elderly, land grabbing

Kaya Elders celebrate  the election of  Charo Nguma (centre in red cap) as the new chairman of the Youth Committee  at  Junda in Mombasa on 8th February ,2015 Photo/Kelvin Karani

Mijikenda Kaya elders have unveiled youth committees to assist the Government end killing of the elderly and land grabbing.

The committees will be established in all the six counties in Coast.

Over 60 elderly people have reportedly been killed in different parts of Coast in the last one year over allegations of practising witchcraft.

Police also say a number of elderly people in Ganze, Kaloleni, Rabai, Kilifi North and South, Malindi and Magarini constituencies have fled their homes to avoid killing.

Fifty Kaya elders, who met more than 3,000 squatters in Junda in Kisauni on Sunday, also said they were opposed to calls for the sacking of National Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri over his differences with Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu.

"We are aware that wealthy landowners who are not interested in solving the land problems in Coast are behind the plot to remove Dr Swazuri from office," said John Misanze of Kaya Fungo.

Mr Misanze said land rights activist Nguma Chengo will spearhead formation of the committees.

"We want to take land grabbing head on so that our people can be settled. We also want a youthful team to sensitise the youth to stop the killings," said Misanze.

Kenga Mbeo (Kaya Ribe) said they will fight any attempts to sack Swazuri as thousands of squatters in Coast are banking their hopes of being resettled on him.

Parliament and Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution indicated last week that they may soon initiate a process to strip Swazuri and Ngilu of their posts because of their persistent wrangles that are a threat to land reforms.