Goons terrorize Kilimambogo residents over land

Thika, Wednesday, May 31, 2023

KNA by Esther Maingi /Muoki Charles

Panic and fear has gripped residents of Kilimambogo village, Thika East Sub County after goons demolished several houses and destroyed crops, over what is believed to be land wrangles.

The over 10 attackers who were armed with machetes and other crude weapons descended on the homes of Hannah Wanjiru and Anne Syombua early Tuesday morning where they cut down maize crops, destroyed their houses and left. They later came back in the wee hours of the night and destroyed their houses and left.

According to Wanjiru, their distress calls fell on deaf ears as police officers from the nearby police post failed to respond.

“I was at home yesterday when goons armed with pangas stormed my house, tied me up, threatening to harm me if I raised alarm. Then they slashed the maize crop in the farm before demolishing my house,” she said.

The duo claimed that a private developer who settled in the area a few months ago is claiming ownership of the 10-acre piece of land and had threatened to terrorise them if they failed to vacate.

They said they have lived on the land in Mukunike village for years and wondered why the developer wanted them out.

The land is a subject of a case in court, where residents who have been living in the area for years went to court to challenge new developers from being resettled.

The developers and squatters settled on this piece of land five year ago, though they have been facing hurdles to settle due to court orders.

Led by their chairman Paul Kimanyi, they said the developers should wait for determination of the case before chasing them away or hiring goons to invade farms and terrorise residents.

 “What we are witnessing here is attempts by private developers to chase away residents from their land. They should wait for the determination of a pending case before they can invade our homes and land,” said Kimanyi.

They now want the intervention of Interior and National Government Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki saying their lives were in danger.

“If the government does not take action on time, the situation might escalate and might become a security issue. These goons must be stopped forthwith,” he added.

Thika East Deputy County Commissioner Hellen Chege confirmed the incident, saying investigations have been launched to establish the cause of the unfortunate ugly incident.

She however warned that anyone who will be found culpable will be brought into book.

Courtesy ; K. N. A