Residents of Kipini East Ward in Tana River County have taken to the streets to protest against what they describe as a systematic attempt to grab their ancestral land, accusing national government officers of colluding with powerful interests to displace hundreds of families.
Led by community member Islam Abdala, the residents expressed outrage that a local wildlife conservancy, allegedly supported by certain government officials, had unlawfully extended its boundaries into areas long inhabited by local communities. Abdala claimed that the disputed land amounts to more than 10,000 acres in the Mkoma Mmoja area, where families have lived for generations. He explained that the forced displacement has left many people homeless and vulnerable, sparking tension in the community.
According to Abdala, the Nairobi Ranch, one of the conservancies involved, has a title deed for its land, but residents insist that this document does not extend into their ancestral territory. He alleged that fraudulent title deeds have been processed to justify the encroachment and accused the Tana River County Commissioner of failing to provide clarity by refusing to show residents the genuine title deed. “We have not refuted that Nairobi Ranch has a title deed, but that title deed does not extend into our ancestral land that they are now claiming. We understand that fake title deeds were processed, and unfortunately, our county commissioner came here and refused to show us the authentic one,” Abdala stated.
The residents further accused the Kipini Wildlife Conservancy of abusing the goodwill of their forefathers, who had donated land in the 1970s for conservation purposes. They alleged that instead of safeguarding the community’s interests, the conservancy has resorted to forcefully displacing locals and extending its boundaries unlawfully. “Our fathers donated land to support conservation, but today that land is being used to chase us away from our homes. This is unacceptable,” Abdala added, while calling on elected leaders to intervene and protect their people from land grabbers.
The tension has particularly affected the youth, who say the ongoing disputes have crushed their hopes of economic stability and self-reliance. Husna Abdul, a young resident, voiced frustration, stating that land is their only means of emancipation from poverty. She emphasized that rather than being supported by the government, young people are being left destitute, with some turning to drugs to cope with the stress of losing their homes. “The government should protect us, not abandon us. Our land is our future, and we must reclaim it to empower ourselves,” she said.
Community members argue that the land dispute is not only displacing families but also blocking opportunities for meaningful farming and fishing activities. Ahmed Abdala, a local fisherman, noted that many youth are eager to engage in agriculture if their land rights are secured. “We are ready to farm, we are ready to work, but how can we do that when we are constantly being pushed off our land?” he asked.
Kipini East Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA), Abubakar Athman, strongly condemned the situation and urged international organizations, including the European Union and the World Bank, to halt funding programs linked to the Kipini Wildlife Conservancy. According to Athman, such funds have failed to benefit residents, and instead, the community has suffered from increased human-wildlife conflicts and mismanagement. He recalled that in 2013, land grabbers and their allies illegally marked a 10,000-acre piece of ancestral land with beacons and used force to expel families. “What we have seen is not community development but land theft disguised as conservation. I call on the European Union and the World Bank to reconsider their support, because these programs are being used to oppress our people rather than uplift them,” Athman declared.
As protests intensify, the residents are urging the government to urgently investigate the alleged fraudulent dealings and take decisive action to restore their ancestral land. They insist that conservation efforts should not come at the cost of human dignity and livelihoods, stressing that their land is central to their cultural identity, survival, and future prosperity.
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