Residents of Syokimau in Athi River, Machakos County have demonstrated against a foreign investor over a land row.
The over 300 locals thronged Athi River deputy county commissioner’s office demanding for forceful eviction of the investor from what they termed as their ancestral land.
The rowdy demonstrators turned wild after they spotted Abdul Saleh, representative of Zum Zum Investment Limited Company that claims ownership of the same piece of land at the deputy county commissioner’s office premises.
They attempted to forcibly gain access into the compound baying for Saleh’s blood but were repulsed by heavily armed contingent of police officers who had been deployed to man the premises.
Carrying placards, the protestors camped at the offices entrance hurling insults at the investors, they demanded that the foreigners quit the disputed 27 acres of land.
Both the residents and the investor claimed they have authentic ownership documents for the controversial land.
Saleh said Zum Zum Investment Limited Company legitimately acquired the piece of land which residents claim belong to their ancestors.
He said those claiming its ownership were not land owners but cartels of grabbers who invade individuals and public land in Athi River.
“These demonstrators have been hired, they own no land. Their spokesman claims he is a human rights activist hence helping the locals agitate for their rights,” Saleh said.
The shaken Saleh waited at the deputy county commissioner’s office premises until the demonstrators left for fear of being attacked.
Athi River Sub County security committee chaired by area deputy county commissioner David Juma engaged the two warring groups in closed door meeting for more than six hours.
The committee met the groups separately and later together as it sought to arbitrate in the matter.
Juma said the demonstrators were impatient with the investor operating on the land.
He said the committee had resolved that each of the groups provides their ownership documents to the contested piece of land for investigations.
Juma said the Director of Criminal Investigations will investigate authenticity of the land documents for the committee to give its report within two weeks time.He said issues of land grabbing are rampant in Athi River.
“We want to verify the documents to ensure that genuine owners have their land,” Juma said.