Villagers in Kilifi protest against nominated senator for impounding stray livestock

Kayafungo MCA Alphonce Mwayaa (centre in red cap) leads Tsangatsini residents in protests after nominated Senator Emma Bura confiscated more than 20 goats and three cows after the animals strayed into her farm. Ms Bura said the animals were at Mariakani Police Station. KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  KAZUNGU SAMUEL

What you need to know:

  • There they sang dirges while some wept, before burning an effigy of Ms Mbura.
  • A village elder, Chadi Mwaduna, said one of his cows strayed into the farm and was impounded, leaving behind a three-month-old calf.
  • Senator Mbura admitted she had confiscated more than 20 goats and three cows.
  • She denied that the animals are at her other farm in Mazeras, saying they were at the Mariakani Police Station.

More than 200 residents of Tsangatsini in Kaloleni, Kilifi County Monday held demonstrations to protest the confiscation of their animals by Mombasa Nominated Senator Emma Mbura at her farm.

Carrying placards, the villagers marched for over 10 kilometres from their homes to a place they had earmarked for a ritual to “curse’’ the senator.

There they sang dirges while some wept, before burning an effigy of Ms Mbura.

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Kayafungo Ward Representative Alphonce Mwayaa told Ms Mbura to heed the villagers’ cries and return their animals, which they claimed she had transported to her other farm in Mazeras.

“We respected her as a senator and being from Kilifi, we thought she would be a blessing to us when she bought the land here. But she has turned against the community that welcomed her,” said Mr Mwayaa.

CALF STARVING

Mr Chadi Mwaduna, who is also a village elder, said one of his cows strayed into the farm and was impounded, leaving behind a three-month-old calf.

“The calf is starving. I want my cow back. I don’t know why Emma Mbura is doing this to us,” said Mzee Chadi.

Another villager, Mr Mudzomba Kazungu, said he lost two cows that strayed into the senator’s farm.

Mr Shikara Pembe, whose eight goats were seized, told the senator to stop oppressing the poor.

Senator Mbura admitted she had confiscated more than 20 goats and three cows.

“I am holding the animals until officers from the agriculture department assess the damage to my crops,” she said.

ANIMALS AT POLICE STATION

She denied that the animals are at her other farm in Mazeras, saying they were at the Mariakani Police Station.

“Let them go for their animals at the police station. I was showing them that there are rules and regulations in this country. Why let your animals roam free and destroy crops,” said.

Kaloleni MP Gunga Mwinga and Deputy County Commissioner Fred Ndunga said they had asked the senator to return the animals but she had advised the villagers to go to court.

Kaloleni OCPD David Kerina said police were currently investigating the genesis of the problem that has brought animosity between the senator and the locals.

“We received the report but we cannot say much for now. We shall communicate to you after concluding our investigations,” said Mr Kerina.

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