Houses built on govt land demolished in Kilifi

County government enforcement officers and other officials raided the Kilifi social services land that was allegedly grabbed by former government officials. 

Reports indicate that the grabbers were given notice but did not honor them leaving tenants to suffer as they were forced to remove household items last minute. 

The demolition kicked off around 5 am as county used a grader to bring down the buildings. 

One of the buildings allegedly belonged to a former Kilifi senior social services officer while another one belonged to a former Kilifi County physical planner. 

The former social services officer, who was present wailed uncontrollably following the shock claiming she took a loan of Ksh. 3 million to build the rental houses and her retirement home.

Dora Chovu had to be held by a neighbor as she attempted to get into the house being demolished by the grader. 

Another government official, Reuben Ngeta a former County physical planner also had his property brought down. 

Those also affected are tenants who had reportedly been assured by their landlords and landlady that there would be no demolition. 

Chovu said that she did not steal anyone’s property and wondered why all her retirement investments had been brought down. 

“What do I do now, where do I go after this this is a big blow to my life,” she said. 

A section of residents supported the demolition saying the land deserved to be taken back. 

Reports indicate that the land is earmarked for development of the county headquarters. 

Samuel Katana, a resident of over 20 years said those who built in the government land were senior government officials who instead of protecting public property grabbed it for their own benefits. 

“We are surprised by some people they were given notice but did not move out until today when the grader came is when they are crying for help please we should respect government officials,” he said. 

Katana called on the Governor to speed up the Construction of the county headquarters so that the county stops paying rent.

Mwanase Ahmed said he was called by his friend in the morning that her house had been demolished. 

She wondered how the county went to demolish properties early in the morning while people are asleep.

“They came to demolish at 6 am in the morning people have lost everything the economy is hard they have nowhere to go, I have been following this story for long and at times they said they would not have demolished now they have demolished,” she said. 

Salim Zeze a resident said the locals were given notice a long time ago but they ignored.

He said one of them was a former social services department staff in Kilifi now retired but grabbed the land and built houses. 

“We support what the government has done in demolishing the property which belongs to the government these are land that were owned by the government and these officials grabbed the land,” he said. 

In an Interview, Kilifi governor Gideon Mungaro said the demolition was timely because they issued several notices a long time ago but the occupants failed to honor them. 

He said the land belonged to the social services department and had been set aside for the constriction of county headquarters but the land occupants failed to respect the orders to leave. 

Mung’aro said the social service land was seven acres but was grabbed and now only 4 acres remaining. 

He said those who grabbed the land were not strangers but former government officials who allocated themselves land they knew belonged to the government. 

“We are going to demolish everything there because we cannot allow people to grab government land,” he said.

He said anyone who built on government land should vacate as they would be brought down.

Mung’aro said the tendering for the construction of the county headquarters which will cost Sh. 500 million shall begin tomorrow and work is set to begin next week.