By Nuru Salim.
Over 1000 residents in Mtongwe-Vitsangalaweni, Likoni Sub-county are facing eviction following a court ruling that granted businessman Abdulbasit Muhsin ownership of the land they have occupied for over a century.
Politicians living in the area are among those affected by the issue.
A court order issued to the residents requires them to vacate the land within 14 days or face forceful eviction. The legal battle, which has been ongoing for 11 years, saw the residents argue that the land was initially leased and later reassigned to them when the lease expired.
However, the court ruled in favor of Muhsin, granting him full rights to the property and the authority to evict the occupants at any time.
With limited options, the affected families have been presented with three difficult choices; pay Ksh. 700,000 per household to retain their homes, accept living on the land under Muhsin’s conditions, or face eviction. None of these options have been agreed upon by the residents, who insist that the land rightfully belongs to them.
In response to the impending eviction, community members convened a crisis meeting on Sunday to discuss possible solutions.
The meeting drew the attention of elected leaders, including area Member of County Assembly (MCA) Nusura Mwinyi, who represented Likoni Member of Parliament (MP) Mishi Mboko.
Mombasa Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillah also attended, aiming to provide a long term solution. Despite their political differences, the leaders stood together in solidarity with the affected residents, vowing to fight for their rights.
MCA Nusura Mwinyi emphasized that the matter was not about politics but about protecting the fundamental rights of the people. She urged residents to remain united in their quest for justice, stating that no one should be forced to leave their home unjustly. 
Senator Miraj Abdillah echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of land ownership, which she described as the only resource that can be passed down through generations. She insisted that every effort must be made to protect it as the land houses both children and the elderly.
The meeting ended with a collective agreement to push for legal intervention and appeal for a review of the court ruling.
Community elders, including Mzee Mohammed Hamisi Mwadzayuya, expressed frustration with the judgment and vowed to continue fighting for their land.
Mwadzayuya revealed that the residents had already spent Ksh. 600,000 in legal fees in their attempt to retain their homes and urged them not to give up.
Several families, including the Charero, Manyama, Mwadzayuya, and Chimwaga families, have been at the forefront of the resistance, calling for unity and urging the community not to give in to fear or intimidation.
Mwadzayuya warned that some individuals might be tempted to accept bribes and step aside, a move he said would weaken their struggle. He stressed the importance of collective action, stating that if the residents allow themselves to be divided, they will lose everything they have fought for.
As the eviction deadline approaches, residents are calling on the county government and the Land Commission to intervene before they are displaced from their homes.
Nominated senator Miraj argued that the historical injustices surrounding land ownership in the coastal region must be addressed to prevent such disputes from recurring believing that if the government fails to act, this case will set a precedent for other similar land battles in the region.
Activists from HURIA also stressed the need for political goodwill to resolve the crisis, urging leaders at both the county and national levels to step in and protect the rights of the affected families.
They emphasized that the land conflict in Vitsangalaweni is part of a broader pattern of land injustices in the coastal region, where local communities often find themselves displaced despite having lived on the land for generations.
The fate of the 119 families now hangs in the balance as they await further developments. With just days left before the eviction deadline, residents are pinning their hopes on intervention from the government and human rights organizations to secure their homes and reclaim their land.
