Kipini Residents Protest Alleged Grab of 10,000-Acre Ancestral Land

By Ben Okweingoti - Malindi

Residents of Kipini village in Kipini East Ward, Tana Delta Sub County, Tana River County, have taken to the streets protesting the alleged grabbing of their 10,000-acre ancestral land. 

They accuse government officers of colluding with a local wildlife conservancy to displace them from their homes.

Led by community elder Islam Abdala, the villagers claimed that the conservancy, in collaboration with National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), had illegally extended its boundaries into human settlements at Mkoma Mmoja area, leaving hundreds of families homeless.

“We are not disputing that Nairobi Ranch has a title deed, but that document does not extend into our ancestral land as they claim. We also know that fake title deeds have been processed, and when the Tana River County Commissioner was asked to show us the deed, he refused,” said Abdala.

He further alleged that Kipini Wildlife Conservancy was demolishing homes and forcibly displacing residents on the pretext that the land belonged to them.

“Our fathers donated land to Kipini Conservancy in the 1970s, but today the same conservancy is grabbing more land and displacing our people. We call upon our elected leaders to intervene and protect us from these illegal activities carried out in collusion with government officers,” Abdala added.

Youth in the area also voiced their frustration. Ms. Husna Abdul warned that the continued loss of land was pushing young people into hopelessness.

“The government should be protecting us, not allowing our land rights to be stolen. Many youths are being driven into drug abuse out of frustration. If we had our land back, we could engage in meaningful projects and free ourselves from poverty,” she said.

Her remarks were echoed by fisherman Ahmed Abdala, who noted that the youth were ready to venture into farming if their land was restored.

Kipini East Ward MCA, Abubakar Athman, also condemned the alleged land grabbing, warning international donors against supporting the conservancy.

“In 2013, a land grabber and his syndicate illegally erected beacons on this 10,000-acre ancestral land and displaced our people using force. I caution the European Union and the World Bank against funding Kipini Wildlife Conservancy because instead of helping the community, it has worsened human-wildlife conflicts and perpetuated land theft,” said Athman.