Photo: A section of the owners of the 2,000 acres of land under Tumu Tumu/ Mathingira farm.
The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Protest has emerged in TumuTumu/ Mathingira Farm in Machakos County following claims that the locals are subject to arrest by the law enforcers.
The land measuring 2,000 acres is occupied by 1,500 people whose parents settled in 1942 and located in Machakos county at the border of the counties of Murang’a and Embu.
The locality is a thorn in the flesh with two tycoons claiming ownership looking for ways to evict them alleging they bought from certain individuals .
The residents led by their Chairman Raphael Mutukui gathered at Mathingira shopping centre, where they recounted their suffering to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) lawyers.
Mutuku said they have been living in extreme fear following threats of eviction by investors salivating for the land.
The land is located a few kilometres from the Kenol/Sagana dual carriage highway at Kwa Thamaki area near Kengen’s Tana Power Station.
“The community has held tens of meetings to explain the issue pertaining to the ownership of the land we have developed. But what is shocking is that our people who are arrested by the police are charged with trumped-up charges,” said Mutuku.
In 2016, homes were shocked by unknown people, with the community suspecting the locality is rich for minerals and farming, the reason the fight for occupation.
Mwangi Karuri said there are two individuals who have been issuing threats to the residents despite the Parliamentary Lands committee, in 2014 visited and gave recommendations.
“ The security agents should stop being misused by the individuals interested in cultivating the land,” he said.
He added that the history of the land should be documented as houses were once burned in a forced ejection that failed.
. The parliamentary committee asked the National Lands Commission (NLC) to carry out investigations on the illegal settlement on the disputed tract of land, with a view of finding a lasting solution.
On Friday a week ago, a fishmonger Domitala Mumbi Kyalo recounted how she was tricked by police officers at Mathingira market by plainclothes police to Kayole police station before she was taken to Kithimani law courts.
She explained that a policewoman came into her premise, and asked for three plates of fish, and later she took a plate from their OCS who was in the vehicle.
“ I was ordered into the vehicle, and driven to Kayole police station, and later to Kithimani police station where I was booked into the cells. On Monday I was arraigned in court,” said Mumbi.
KHRC Lawyer Tatyana Njenga affirmed that the police have been harassing the residents in connection with the land row.
“Mumbi is the latest victim of police harassment, a trend that should be brought to a halt, as the court ordered for a status quo in the matter pertaining to ownership,” said Ms Njenga.
Machakos County Commissioner Josphine Ouko said she was not aware of the harassment claims by the community.
“ The complaints should be lodged with the Masinga Deputy County Commissioner,” said Ms Ouko.
