Displaced residents of Macabini in Tharaka-Nithi protest against land division

Displaced residents of Macabini in Tharaka North Sub-County Wednesday held peaceful demonstrations outside Tharaka-Nithi governor's office at Kathwana, protesting against the adjudication of the parcels of land from which they were evicted.

The locals want an immediate stop of the adjudication at Kirindine B and Amugenti B.

One of the residents, Stephen Gitonga, said they were displaced in 2007 following a land dispute with the neighbouring Igembe people.

"We were chased away from our homes, houses and schools were burnt and now the land is being adjudicated and title deeds given to those who displaced us," said Mr Gitonga.

Addressing the demonstrators, Land, Energy and ICT Chief Officer Sebastian Mwangangi said the adjudication process was the responsibility of the national government and asked Senator Kithure Kindiki and Tharaka MP Mburi Muiru to intervene and ensure the row is solved.

CALL FOR FAIRNESS

“Land adjudication is not entirely devolved and any adjudication exercise is approved in Nairobi by the Ministry of land," said Mr Mwangangi.

He called on national government to ensure fairness during the adjudication e on the disputed area.

He said efforts by Tharaka-Nithi County government to petition National Assembly and the Senate to solve the problem had not been successful.

The demonstrators have vowed to camp outside the governor's office until they hand over their memorandum as evictees.

The governor, Samuel Ragwa, is out of the county on official duty.

The have also vowed to hand over a copy of the document to Senator Kindiki and County Commissioner Florence Amoit, among other top officers.

A few weeks ago, the same group demonstrated and spent a night outside Tharaka MPs office in Marimanti.

More than 3,000 people are said to have been evicted from the disputed land and live as squatters at Gatithi market and other towns in Tharaka.