Residents of Malindi residing on a contested piece of land that had been turned into an illegal dumpsite by the Malindi Municipality have accused the Kilifi County government of trying to grab the land.

This is after county land surveyors descended on the 50 acre land located in the outskirts of Malindi town accompanied by police officers and started demarcating the land and laying beacons without involving residents.

The more than 100 families led by Robert Safari and Jane Mwango are now living in fear of losing their land and are calling on the government to issue them with title deeds as well as relocate the dumpsite from the area.

Safari said that dumping had been banned in the area but they were shocked that county garbage trucks from Malindi and Watamu Municipalities were still offloading waste in the area hence continuing to endanger the health of residents.

“The Malindi municipality has invaded our land and currently an elderly woman is nursing high blood pressure after she received an eviction notice. We want our leaders to intervene and help us,” he said.

Jane lamented the health risks that they were facing with many residents nursing respiratory ailments and diseases.

“We were born here and we are more than 100 families yet they want to evict us from our land. We pray that our leaders can get involved and help us get land title deeds and relocate the dumpsite since we are suffering,” she said.

Thomas Chengo, another resident wondered why land adjudication and survey could be done without affected residents being involved.

“What is happening here is not legal and acceptable because the municipal officers accompanied by police officers can’t just storm our homes and start surveying with us kept in the dark. It is totally unacceptable and we demand justice. Let us get involved and be issued with title deeds,” he said.