Residents of Bibi wa Shafi area in Mombasa County have raised concerns over land grabbing by private developers.The residents are appealing to the government to bring the perpetrators to justice.They alleged that, despite a court order to forbid any activities to be done in the area.The private developers have grabbed the said plot and took over a mosque that they did not build.
“Despite the place being a road reserve, I wrote to the authorities and asked for permission to build a temporary mosque, we have been running the mosque for over six years now but recently, the grabbers took over,” said Munir Mohammed Sketty, the property owner.Mr. Sketty noted that, the residents had seen the need to build a permanent mosque because the area being a bus stop needed a prayer place for the larger Muslim community that resides in that particular place. However, just after demolishing their residential houses to pave way for the construction of a permanent mosque, Mr. Mudathiri Somoe Bwana and others came in and took over.
“We demolished some of our residential houses so as to expand the mosque, but we cannot do so because Mr. Bwana and his colleagues have taken over the running of the mosque,” added Mr. Sketty.The mosque is said to have been constructed by Mr. Hussein Mohammed.Mohammed said that he thought of constructing the mosque as part of his contribution to the Muslim community that resides at Bibi wa shafi area.
He said the grabbers came in and renovated the roofing of the mosque and that is how they got the chance to take over operation and even planned to set up other business stalls nearby.“This area is a private property of Sheikh Munir Sketty, out of his kind heart he gave it out to me so I can build a mosque for the community, now to these people who have come over and want to do other projects here without the consent of the owner, why is the court’s decision not respected?” Mohammed said.According to Mr. Sketty , in a court order dated November 18, 2020, the court ordered the private developers to stop any activities in the area which is his property, however, up to date development activities are ongoing.