A deadly land dispute in Malindi turned violent, leaving one person dead and several others injured. The clash erupted over the ownership of a three-and-a-half-acre plot in Kijiwa, along the Mombasa-Malindi Highway.
The violence began when a group of armed youths stormed a construction site where workers were building a perimeter wall. The attackers vandalized tools and demolished parts of the wall, escalating tensions between rival factions. Amid the chaos, gunfire erupted, resulting in the death of one man and serious injuries to a middle-aged woman, who is currently receiving treatment at Malindi Sub-County Hospital.
Shela Ward MCA Twahir Abdulkarim led a group of protesters to the Malindi Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner’s (DCC) office, demanding an immediate halt to the construction. Their protest followed an interim court order issued by the Malindi Lands Court last Friday, temporarily stopping any development on the contested land. However, when the group later visited the disputed site, the situation spiraled into violence, culminating in the fatal shooting.
Local politician Jamal Sheikh accused private developer Alfred Akunga of defying the court order and illegally taking over the land, which allegedly belongs to the daughter of former Watamu Councilor Ali Didi. Sheikh claimed previous county government interventions to halt the development had failed, suggesting that Akunga had backing from a senior politician.
Muslim religious leader Famau Mohamed Famau condemned the alleged land-grabbing, stating they had sought intervention from the DCC and vowed to continue fighting for justice. Abdulkarim echoed these sentiments, highlighting widespread land-grabbing in Malindi and pledging to resist intimidation.
However, Akunga defended his claim, stating that he legally purchased the land in 2016 for Ksh 10 million and possesses valid ownership documents. He alleged that individuals had recently trespassed on the property and destroyed sections of the fence. He further claimed that the disputing parties had offered to buy the land for Ksh 60 million, which he declined.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, as tensions remain high in the area. Meanwhile, human rights activist Victor Kaudo has urged law enforcement agencies to bring those responsible for the violence to justice.
