Residents of Kanagoni in Magarini, Kilifi county recently held demonstrations over harassment by salt companies that are allegedly using police to evict them from their ancestral land.
The residents, while carrying twigs and singing songs of justice, claimed they filed a petition in court seeking to get justice but before the conclusion of the case, the salt firms started to expand their operation area displacing some residents.
Last week, a young man with newly born twins was allegedly tortured at night by armed police, who later arrested him.
In addition, there are other locals who have been summoned by the police, leaving their families in fear.
Tension is high in the area as members of the community say they will not allow to be evicted from their own parcels of land and asked Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro to intervene and help them get land ownership documents.
Michael Katana, a resident of Kanagoni B who is 67 years old, said the injustices began in 1999 when a salt company called KEMU harassed them and now another salt firm called Krystalline took over and is also harassing them despite having an ongoing case in court.
Speaking in Kamagni, he claimed that Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, Deputy County Commissioner and the county commissioner are colluding with the investors to harass residents.
Harusi Dena, a resident, said it’s time for the government to resolve the problem by ensuring affected individuals are allocated land.
She said the salt firms have caused more harm than good as women who work in the firms sometimes get miscarriages due to the poor working conditions.
John Nyanje, who was subjected to torture by the police at night said police raided his home while he was asleep and tortured him with pangas and guns.
At one time, he used his newly born child as a shield but despite that they handcuffed him and continued the torture.
Meanwhile, Malindi Rights Forum and Kubuka Farmers, a local CBO that has been in the forefront in fighting the injustices, condemned the police and provincial administration for being used by investors to harass locals in their own land.
Jackson Fondo, chairman Kubuka Farmers association and Vice Chairman Malindi Rights Forum said the salt firms appealed against the case after losing and before the matter was concluded they began expanding their land two weeks ago.
He called on the Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to investigate the matter and find out who was behind the injustices to the affected communities.
Peter Komora, the Project Coordinator of Malindi Rights forum said the communities have been subjected to injustices for a long time with many inquiries including that of the National Lands Commission in 2018, Malindi Inquiry of 2016, but all have not resolved the injustices.
He said it’s time Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro comes in and makes good his promise to resolve the issue and ensure locals get land ownership documents.
To him there was no public participation when KEMu Salt gave the land to Ken salt which was wrong, adding that no Environmental Impact Assessment was done and NEMA has not taken any action.
To him the salt firms should do business but respect human rights and end the injustices which have been going on for years.
Zedekia Odika, chairman Coast Civil Society Networks on Human Rights and lawyer said in the recent past there has been arrests and torture of residents of Kanagoni area due to the land ownership dispute between the communities and Salt firms.
He said the Salt belt matter was investigated in 2006 and a report released showing gross violations of human rights by the salt firms which forcefully took over community land.
Further, he told Kilifi Governor to move with speed and resolve the issue by ensuring they get land ownership documents so as to permanently end the injustices.
Written by Alphonce Gari, TV47 correspondent
