Cemetery row as County,residents lock horns

Construction works ongoing outside the old Thika cemetery located on General Kago road.Locals have opposed the move to build stalls in-front of the cemetery claiming it was a ploy to grab the land.

There was chaos at a public cemetery in Thika Town yesterday as residents pulled down a wall the county government is constructing.

Residents of the nearby Ziwani, Ofafa, Jamhuri and Starehe estates said they feared the cemetery, near General Kago Road, was being fenced off in a calculated move to grab the land.

This was the second time they were demolishing the fence.

They termed the move as being disrespectful to the dead, most of whom, are their relatives.

The residents also wondered why the perimeter wall was being constructed at night, saying those behind it have ill motives.

“We cannot allow this to happen. We will not just sit back and watch some heartless people grab cemetery land pretending they are fencing it off to protect it. We will resit them,” said Mary Wangari, a resident.

She added: “We have information some people have already shared out the land. They want to put up commercial buildings to cash in on the high number of students in this area.”

The cemetery is near Mount Kenya University’s main campus.

Thika sub-county administrator Ephraim Njiihi said the county only planned to fence the cemetery and clear bushes around it to enhance security.