By Alloys Musyoka
A request letter from the Changoma family of Kaya Kwale to meet up with Kenya National Highway Authority on the tarmacking of 29 kilometers Kwale -Kinango road has elicited sharp debate in the area.
The letter is copied to Kwale county governor Fatuma Achani and Kwale county commissioner.
The controversial road remains a very vital point of connection to locals traveling to Nairobi and back as well as tourists accessing Diani tourist’s town, with its completion being very critical.
According to the Changoma family led by ambassador Ali Chirau Mwakwere they have not been consulted about the project being the sole custodian and owners of the cultural Royal and sacred Kaya Kwale where the road passes through.
Those opposed to the letter by the Mwakwere family claim that its intention is to stop the ongoing construction of the important road linking Kwale-Kinango and Nairobi highway while those supporting the Changoma family say that they have a right since the project passes through their ancestral land.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has weighed in the issue saying her administration has done a lot to ensure the project continues for the benefits of Kwale residents.
Achani emphasized the importance of the road saying that sometimes locals seek health services in Kinango when Kwale hospital cannot provide adding that the road belongs to Kwale people and not any tribe.
She said that her administration remains committed to ensure the road is completed adding that she will not be intimidated and give in to threats of delaying development.
But speaking to Coast Times Digital, Ali Chirau Mwakwere said that they are not opposed to the road construction as it has been claimed.
“Our grandfathers gave rights for the road constructions during colonial time, It’s not a burial site only but a royal burial area and also a sacred Kaya that is protected by our laws. Being the custodians it is important to consult us,” he said.
“If you have a committee in Kinango for the Marere Kinango road why not also have a committee on the same from Marere to Golini where locals approved for the road to pass through their ancestral land?” he posed.
Mwakwere said that those doing the road have only involved Kenya forest Services and Kenya Wildlife Services forgetting those who owned the land and the Golini location people.
“There are sacred trees which are not supposed to be touched and walls which were palaces. We are advancing the project and not stopping it as it is being claimed,” he added.
Part of the Kwale Kaya forest is set aside as a royal grave site and also sacred areas as it was a place held by the royal family before the Changoma family allowed the construction of the road by the colonial government according to Ali Chirau Mwakwere.
Worldwide sacred areas and grace sites are respected and owners consulted when issues of development arise.
Case in point is relocation of sacred places (Kaya and graves) by Mwache dam multi-purpose project as well as Base Titanium mining company that has relocated hundreds of graves to pave way for mining.
The mining company has also compensated and helped in relocation of sacred areas from Kwale Northern dune to locals’ places of choice.
