More than 200 families in Kwa Makaa area of Tudor are up in arms after a tycoon erected a perimeter wall around their houses sitting on about seven acres of land, closing them off on all sides.

The families said their freedom of movement has been curtailed, as the perimeter wall has only one gate, which is locked at 7pm and opened at 9am.

“Our children go to school very early in the morning, around 6am. But since at that time the gate is still closed, they have to risk their lives passing through a small opening in the wall where sewage water passes,” Mwaka Mkalla, a widow, said on Monday.

She said their children have to risk getting waterborne diseases every day for more than two weeks now, ever since the perimeter wall was erected.

“If the land is theirs as they claim, why don’t they ever show us any document to prove it? Why don’t they show us a court order that allows them to demolish our houses?” Mkalla posed.

Tudor MCA Samir Baloo said the perimeter wall has not been constructed up to standard and risks the lives of people who live in the area.

He called on Mombasa County transport and infrastructure executive Dan Manyala to probe how the wall was erected.

He said: “If any accident happens here, there will be a disaster because there is no access in or out.”

The MCA also called on county lands executive Hussein “Amadow” Mohamed to move to the area and investigate the matter, saying his aides have been adversely mentioned in the saga.

“We have given them seven days to come to the ground and assess the area. If the county government does not come down here, the resident will decide what to do,” Baloo said.

Mwanakombo Mwangale, who has lived in the area for over 30 years, said the tycoon has been hiring goons to demolish some of their erected properties.

“They have erected a wall with one gate that they control. We cannot leave our houses freely. We have to work with their time,” Mwangale said.

She was one of those arrested for standing their ground. It took the intervention of MCA Baloo to secure their release from the Makupa police station.

“This is oppression. The weak have no justice. Justice is for the wealthy alone. Every time we ask why they are erecting a perimeter wall without notifying us, we get arrested and sent to Makupa police station,” she lamented.

Paul Diamolo, a resident of more than 30 years, said a court case over the same has been ending for over 20 years now.

Baloo warned youth against being hired to harass their own community members.

“When you get into trouble, that tycoon will abandon you and you will be on your own,” he warned.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

The seven-acre piece of land is in a prime location next to the road. Its close proximity to the beach and the Makupa police station make it an investor’s dream.

Land disputes of such nature are common in Mombasa. Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho recently said no one will be evicted from their lands under his watch.