A section of Kilifi Members of County Assembly are living in fear after a number of cases involving people masquerading as MCAs in their areas of jurisdiction.
They have raised a red flag over the matter as cases of impersonation by people who intimidate locals trying to evict them continue to be recorded everyday.
The recent incident taking place in Sabaki ward where a man with a gun confronted a family in Sabaki ward and introduced himself as Ganda MCA demanding them to leave the land they were living in, although he was not the area MCA.
Andrew Gone one of Malindi residents said that there are rising cases of people impersonating leaders to swindle money from unsuspecting residents
” The fake MCA wanted the family to vacate a one acre piece of land. He introduced himself as Ganda MCA but we immediately called Sabaki MCA for confirmation and found out that he was not the one,” he said.
Ganda ward Oscar Wanje told Coast Times Digital that his life was in danger since the fake “MCA” was armed.
“I was shocked to be told by my Sabaki MCA colleague Rose Baraka that i had stormed in a family land in her area,” said the visibly shaken MCA adding that,” I visited the area together with Malindi town ward MCA Rashid Odhiambo and the residents were shocked to find out that I was the real MCA”.
He warned members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious characters to the authorities.
Odhiambo wondered why would someone impersonate a leader with aim of harming and defrauding unsuspecting locals.
The issue attracted the attention of Kilifi County Assembly Speaker Teddy Mwambire who said that already some residents have lost money to fraudsters using MCA names.
“The Sabaki incident is a very serious one because weapons are involved. My MCAs are not gun handlers and when such an incident happens then their lives are in danger. Something need to be done,” he said.
Malindi community leader Famau Mohamed called on the leaders to focus on being in their respective wards to address the issue.
