The land problem in Mombasa has been turned into a cash cow.
The historical land injustices in Mombasa is being used by corrupt individuals as a springboard to personal goals.
It has now emerged that 'professional squatters' are recruited by individuals to occupy idle private land, construct makeshift houses and claim the land belongs to their ancestors.
One of those involved in this trade, 38-year-old John Kahindi admitted to being used to claim a Bandari Sacco's 60-acre piece of land at Nguu Tatu, Kisauni constituency. The Mwakirunge resident says one is paid by unnamed people to demonstrate.
“I was told I would be handsomely compensated. So I just took a few building materials and built a makeshift house. I joined the others during demonstrations, for which we would be paid Sh500. But I have my own home,” Kahindi told a local daily in an interview.
Police reports allege that the Lands Registry is responsible for the identification of idle land which dubious 'ground men' organise for takeover.
After the takeover, the 'ground man' ensures there is a court order that restricts the genuine owner from entering, ejecting, interfering, disturbing, harassing, intimidating or removing the 'squatters'. The owner is also barred from selling the property.
On December 19, 2018, Bandari Sacco was able to reclaim the land after Mombasa Environment and Land Court Judge Anne Omollo ruled in their favour. Its board member Johnson Kegohi questioned the genuineness of people involved in several land cases in Mombasa.
“What is intriguing about these invaders is that the names that appear in the various court papers are virtually the same, meaning these are professional grabbers,” Kegohi noted at the time.