A 90-year-old widow’s family in Watamu, Kilifi County, is crying out for justice after their houses were demolished by tycoons claiming ownership of a 38-acre prime piece of land in Jacaranda area of Watamu.
The widow and her nine children have reportedly been living in the beach property since 1972 and have all ownership documents.
They are now being forcefully evicted by renowned tycoons who claim ownership of the land.
The family of the late Kadenge Jefwa is already in a state of panic after being attacked by unknown people who broke into the widow’s house.
Dzendere Kadenge claims to have lived on the land since 1972 with her husband and children before the tycoons emerged claiming ownership two years ago.
Last month her son who lives with her in the property was allegedly forcefully tied by goons sent by the tycoons, who dumped him in the Indian ocean.
Luckily he was saved by fishermen in the wee hours of the morning. He was found unconscious on the shores after tides went low.
Kaingu Kazungu, the widow’s son, said he was attacked by a group of hired goons at night , tied up, and thrown into the sea, where he was rescued by fishermen.
One of her two houses has been demolished and the remaining one has been marked for demolition.
Meanwhile, construction of a perimeter wall is going on allegedly under supervision of DCI officers who park their land cruiser right on the controversial beach property
Some family members say that despite having a court order to halt any construction on the land until the land dispute case is resolved, the tycoons have been seen continuing to build a perimeter wall on the disputed land.
The family, which is currently living in fear, has called on the government to intervene immediately to resolve the land dispute.
They wondered why the Kilifi County and national government was watching as the poor widow and her family were being evicted from their own land.
Contacted for comment on phone, Kilifi County Commissioner Joseph Biwott said he was not aware of the forceful eviction and called on the affected families to report to the police.
Interestingly the tycoons are reportedly using the security machinery for protection to continue building the perimeter wall as goons are being hired to demolish the buildings at night.
Last month during the official opening of the new Malindi Lands Registry office graced by Lands CS Alice Wahome, the County Commissioner said there have been land disputes in the area, leaving many families in distress as 70 percent of criminal cases involve land issues.
