KILIFI, Kenya – In an address during his third day of a coastal tour, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that 62 elders have been killed by their own children or relatives over land inheritance disputes in Kilifi County.
The alarming deaths, linked to land ownership fraud, have underscored the increasing insecurity in the region, with the CS placing the blame squarely on powerful land cartels.
Murkomen pointed fingers at a network of land registry officials, judicial officers, and government administrators who facilitate land theft through dubious court orders and corrupt practices.
He warned that the time for these cartels to operate unchecked was over.
“Dubious and suspect court orders are enabling land theft, while corrupt officials from the land registry are facilitating these acts,” Murkomen said.
The CS also highlighted a disturbing trend where elders, fearful of losing their lives over land disputes, have stopped collecting their IDs, a critical document needed for various legal transactions.
This fear has made many elderly residents reluctant to engage in land transactions, further exacerbating the insecurity in the region.
Murkomen issued a stern warning to land cartels in Kilifi County, assuring the public that the government would take decisive action to dismantle these criminal networks.
His remarks followed widespread concerns over the growing number of land-related killings, particularly the murders of elderly individuals who are often the victims of inheritance conflicts.
In addition to addressing the land cartels, Murkomen called on the residents of Kilifi to adhere to legal processes when acquiring land, cautioning against purchasing land that is under dispute or belongs to the government.
“Do not buy land that is in dispute or is government property,” Murkomen advised.
While acknowledging the failure of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in preventing the Shakahola massacre, Murkomen reassured the public that the government was committed to addressing the root causes of insecurity in the region and would enhance efforts to protect the citizens of Kilifi from further harm.
