Scores injured as communities clash over ownership of disputed land

Dozens of people sustained serious injuries on Tuesday following clashes between communities living in Challa Division, Taveta Sub County, over the ownership of over 4800 acres. The vast land which has been at the centre of conflict between Taita, Taveta, Kamba and Maasai communities is occupied by more than 5000 squatters. Trouble started after a consultative meeting convened by the Taita Taveta County Assembly Land Committee in Lumi turned chaotic, forcing the more than 20 MCAs to flee. The House committee was led by the chairperson Hope Mwakio, an ODM Nominated MCA. National Government Administrative officers (NGAO), said the meeting lasted for only 10 minutes before the chaos erupted. "We were not involved in the planning of the meeting and the organisers are to blame for the chaos," said Challa Assistant County Commissioner Viginia Makato. "We were not invited or notified of the meeting by the conveners. The communication of the meeting also came late to the communities living in the area and nobody should blame us. The area MCA Antony Kinyili is better placed to give more details. But as far as we are concerned, the office of the Deputy County Commissioner was not notified," Ms Makato told The Standard. The administrator however warned that anyone found inciting residents to cause chaos will be dealt with according to the law. "I have already briefed the DCC about the incident and action will be taken against those found capable of any offense," she warned. But in a quick rejoinder, Challa MCA Kinyili said all relevant stakeholders including the NGAO officials and police were notified of the meeting on time. He disclosed that the Lands Committee had convened the meeting following a petition filed by some residents who claimed that their ancestral land had been invaded and grabbed by outsiders. The MCAs said the meeting was meant to address the controversy surrounding the disputed land following a petition filed by the Taita community. "We convened the meeting so as to get to the bottom of the land problem. We were not given a chance even to speak and were forced to flee after chaos erupted. We had to seek refuge at a social hall in the area and I can confirm to you that scores of people were injured by the time police arrived at the venue as tension ran high," he said. The injured were rushed to Njukini Health centre. The NGAO officials disclosed that more than 2,000 people from as far as Voi, Wundanyi, Mwatate, Taveta and Makueni were ferried to the venue of the meeting in hired buses, matatus and motorbikes. The administrators said chaos started immediately after the Taita community spokesman identified only as Mr Karinda started to address the gathering. "The communities living on the land became hostile and used all manner of crude weapons to fight each other to defend their land rights," said Challa location Chief Jeremiah Ndeesa. Residents and leaders admitted that there is bad blood between the communities over the disputed ownership of the land that has remained unresolved for decades. Former Taveta legislator Mwacharo Kubo disclosed that at one time, the emotive land issue led to the killing of two people. Kubo said controversy is also simmering between the Challa residents and the Kenya Wildlife Service over the ownership of a 3,700 acre plot. Mwacharo said the boundary row between Taita Taveta and Kajiado counties has remained unresolved for years. He blamed the county and national governments for doing little to address the boundary issues with neighboring Makueni, Kwale and Kajiado counties. "Villagers will continue attacking each other due to unresolved land tenures and boundary issues which the government has ignored for years," he said. In April, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen regretted that the heavy presence of squatters remains a major challenge in the Coast region. Murkomen said the high number of squatters is not only a recipe for chaos but a security challenge and social instability in the region. He assured that the government was doing everything possible to adequately address the challenges facing the region for the sake of peace and socioeconomic development. "Competition for land and its resources has been a common factor for years and remains a serious challenge facing the region," the CS said in Mwatate town during a tour of the region in April. "The squatter problem cuts across the six coastal counties, and we are engaging the Ministry of Lands to address the menace which is a recipe for chaos," he added. "Security personnel are working round the clock to effectively dismantle a gang that has frequently been invading private farms in the region." Murkomen, however, declined to comment about private farms in the region that occupy about 86 per cent of the total land area. "Will not talk about private farms," he responded when asked by The Standard.

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Scores injured as communities clash over ownership of disputed land

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