Mombasa Land Victims Unite to Fight Evictions and Land Grabbing

Victims of land grabbing, forced evictions, and housing insecurity across Mombasa County have launched a new countywide movement aimed at pushing authorities to address long-standing land and housing disputes.

The Mombasa land rights movement, known as Jamvi la Ardhi na Makao, brings together 26 victim groups representing more than 600 members from all six sub-counties.

The coalition was launched on Saturday, a day before Madaraka Day celebrations, to amplify community voices in land and housing governance.

Speaking during the launch, Kisauni resident Saumu Ramadhani said many communities continue to face insecurity despite decades of independence.

“Today, 30th May 2026, on the eve of Madaraka Day, as the country prepares to celebrate freedom and self-determination, we gather with the painful reality that many communities in Mombasa are still waiting to experience the true meaning of Madaraka,” she said.

Communities Cite Long-Standing Land and Housing Challenges

Members of the movement highlighted several unresolved disputes affecting thousands of residents across the county.

In Timbwani, more than 1,000 residents reportedly live without title deeds and face recurring threats of eviction.

Meanwhile, more than 330 families displaced after the demolition of Likoni Flats continue to live in uncertainty as they await information on whether they will return to their former homes.

In addition, more than 110 county staff families, representing nearly 700 residents, were displaced from Mzizima Estate for a redevelopment project that has yet to be completed.

Residents living in National Housing Corporation estates and Tom Mboya Estate in Tudor also raised concerns over housing insecurity, poor drainage, inadequate maintenance, and fears of displacement.

Coalition Vows Collective Action

Haki Yetu Executive Director Peter Kiama said the new platform would unite affected communities and strengthen their engagement with government institutions.

“We are here to say, ‘Not yet Madaraka,'” said Kiama. “A country that claims to have attained Madaraka must be a nation that respects human dignity. It shouldn’t be that citizens are constantly living in a state of anxiety.”

Kiama called for comprehensive reforms in land, housing, and environmental governance, arguing that residents have grown frustrated by unfulfilled promises.

The coalition’s newly elected chairman, John Tsuma, said members would collectively engage the Senate, County Assembly, County Government of Mombasa, National Assembly, and National Land Commission to seek lasting solutions to their grievances.

The movement plans to submit petitions to government institutions and constitutional commissions while mobilising wider public support for land, housing, and environmental justice across Mombasa County.