A land dispute in Malindi turned deadly after a man was shot and killed, while a middle-aged woman sustained gunshot wounds and is currently receiving treatment at Malindi Sub-County Hospital.
Several others were injured in the violent clash over the ownership of a three-and-a-half-acre plot in Kijiwa, along the Mombasa-Malindi Highway.
The violence erupted when a group of armed youths stormed a construction site, attacking workers building a perimeter wall.
The attackers vandalized tools and demolished sections of the wall, escalating tensions between rival factions.
As the confrontation unfolded, 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 activity on the contested land.
The group later proceeded to the disputed site, where the situation turned violent, culminating in gunfire.
Malindi politician Jamal Sheikh accused private developer Alfred Akunga of defying the court order and forcefully taking over the land, which allegedly belongs to the daughter of a former councilor.
Sheikh claimed that previous efforts by the county government to halt the development had failed, alleging that Akunga had backing from a senior politician.
Muslim religious leader Famau Mohamed Famau condemned the alleged land-grabbing, stating that they had sought intervention from the DCC to resolve the matter.
He vowed that they would not relent in their efforts to reclaim the land.
Former Watamu Councilor Ali Didi insisted that his daughter is the rightful owner of the property and vowed to resist any attempts to seize it.
Shela Ward MCA Twahir Abdulkarim echoed these sentiments, decrying widespread land-grabbing in Malindi, where vulnerable locals are being displaced.
He stated that they would not be intimidated, regardless of the individuals involved, and would continue seeking justice.
In response, Alfred Akunga defended his claim to the land, stating that he legally purchased it in 2016 for Ksh 10 million and possesses valid ownership documents.
He alleged that a month ago, individuals trespassed onto the property and destroyed parts of the fence.
After reporting the matter to the police, he claimed that four days ago, the same group returned, this time accompanied by Malindi OCS officers, who arrested four of his workers.
He later intervened to secure their release.
Akunga said he attempted to engage those contesting the land’s ownership but was instead pressured to sell it to them.
According to him, they later presented what he termed a fake title deed and offered to buy the land for Ksh 60 million, which he declined.
Fearing for his safety, Akunga decided to reinforce the perimeter wall. However, on the day of the attack, armed youths, allegedly led by a local MCA, stormed the site, resulting in violent clashes and the fatal shooting.
He condemned the incident, calling it a case of hooliganism being used to grab land.
Human rights activist Victor Kaudo called on investigative agencies to bring those responsible for the killing to justice.
The body of the deceased was taken to Star Hospital mortuary in Malindi, while the injured are receiving treatment at Malindi Sub-County Hospital.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident as tensions remain high in the area.
