Muslim clerics in Malindi sub-county of Kilifi county want the government to protect property owners to end the bloody killings by greedy individuals who are out to grab land by force.
The leaders also want the issue of Woman chief Kadhi to be dealt with by Muslim scholars instead of leaving the matter to be handled by NGOs or political leaders.
Led by Omar Al-Mihdhar Ahmad Badawy a Muslim scholar they said the recent killings of renowned businessman Sidik Sumra, his driver Rahil Kasmani and agent James Kazungu who were murdered by unidentified people when they went to survey land on July 7.
Sidik was a well-known businessman who was killed on the day he was almost fulfilling his dream of expanding his dairy farm in Kilifi county.
Badawy who was speaking after leading hundreds of Muslim faithful in the Iddul Adda prayers at Masjid Noor Barani in Malindi town said they have lived for many years since the era of their great grandfathers peacefully in the lands but of late people have begun threatening landowners in their own land.
He said as per the constitution, any citizen must be protected in person and his property to ensure they live peacefully.
Badawy said the problem if not dealt with fully will lead to more bloodshed and called on the political and religious leaders together with the government to intervene and ensure land grabbing is stopped.
“Its unfortunate that people are blocked from accessing their properties while others grab land by force and end up not going to their rightfully owned land for fear of being attacked or killed,” he said.
He urged the Ministry of Lands to move with speed to ensure they resolve the land issues to prevent more deaths and make sure justice prevails to the owners.
On the issue of Woman chief Kadhi who he said has been in the limelight for sometimes now Badawy said those to be consulted as Muslim scholars who understand the Islamic religion.
“Politicians, NGOS are not supposed to come out to talk about the issue of the Woman chief kadhi there are scholars with knowledge of the religion who if engaged can help resolve the matter,” he said.
Sharif Albeity in charge of Masjid Noor Mosque in Barani Malindi said the issue of land ownership and land injustice has become rampant as lives are being lost.
He called on the government to intervene and resolve the land controversies to enable landowners to live peacefully.
“Recently in Kilifi, there were brutal killings of a man who had gone to survey his land and people turned against him brutally killing him and two others on the spot,” he said.
Albeity said the government should also come up with a plan to buy the land from the owners and resettle the squatters.
Ali Godana a Muslim faithful said there was no problem for those who celebrated Idd on Tuesday and those who celebrated on Wednesday.
He also said there was a need for those people owning property to live peacefully without being denied their rights to own property.