Historical land injustice in all parts of Kenya is real. Resolving it is proving elusive.
Is the vast land acquisition at the Coast by Salim bin Khalfan – the former Liwali of Mombasa – a legitimate willing-buyer-willing-seller scenario? I doubt. Under his position as Liwali, then representing the Sultan of Zanzibar, Salim bin Khalfan was privileged – just as was Kenya founding President, Jomo Kenyatta, – amassing huge chunks of land.
My concern is the inevitable displacement of Muslims at the Coast region by heirs of Salim bin Khalfan. They are selling thousands of acres at the Coast at market price, which is unaffordable to the occupants. The affected have lived in this land beyond the reach of memory, built their homes in it, and religiously paid rates. The sale risks changing population equation in favour of the moneyed, non-natives who corrupted their ways to riches and can easily purchase the parcels.
Rajab Sumba, a former Mombasa mayor, is trying to seek sympathy from President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he is asking to intervene. But Uhuru’s father is the architect of land grabbing in Kenya’s post-independence history, and his actions might have possibly muddled the situation.
With the impending sale of parts of Coastland by heirs of Salim bin Khalfan, Mombasa will be adversely affected. The market price demanded by the heirs will likely cause an economic crisis that will give non-natives an advantage over natives.
Just like Kenyatta, there is no record that Salim bin Khalfan bought the land his heirs are laying claim, neither a proof he owned it before he became Liwali of Mombasa. Nevertheless, his inheritors questionably obtained title deeds. They are now using the document to sell the parcels at the Coast at an exorbitant price.
Salim bin Khalfan used his position, in a Kenyatta-like style, to amass vast acres for himself and his generations. His action and that of Kenyatta resulted in historical land injustices that Kenya has unsuccessfully fought for decades.
But since Salim bin Khalfan heirs have the “legal” document, irrespective of how they obtained it, they can – out of humanity and religious considerations – review the price they are quoting. I oppose selling the land at market value because the majority, especially the Muslim community, cannot afford. The charge should put into considerations the land rates occupiers have been paying for years.
Reports are rife that those who got compelled to buy the land at a market price want to sue. Salim bin Khalfan heirs should know that this will cost them greatly – and they better resolve the impasse through talks than a court of law.
Khelef Khalifa is the Chairman of MUHURI Board.
Mr khelef seems to have overdosed himself with the theatrics of a deceitful lot that hopes to cash in on the “political” rhetoric rather than actually dispensing what we are meant to believe his relevance in office is..
Mr Sumba and now khelef seem to have forgotten that Salim bin khalfan died in 1920 ,, what was your population back then? When did he committ the alleged offences ? Who presicly did he displace ?? Our history is much richer than what the sumbas and khelf’s thirst for relevance.. kindly do your due diligence
Salim bin Khalfan didn’t displace anyone in Mombasa or any other place, but his heirs are and this is going to effect many Muslims in areas where predominantly inhabited by them.
Shouldn’t I worried about the thousands of people who lived in these areas where the danger of relocation is real?
Historical land injustices is a fact, this is not about legitimacy of title deeds but justice for people who call “our home”.
The question I beg to ask, which personally I don’t have the answer, is there any proof that Salim bin Khalfan owned the land before or after he become a Liwali of Mombasa?
Did he bought the land and from who?
Was the title deed in the name of Salim bin Khalfan the Liwali of Mombasa or Salim bin Khalfan as a private person?
Twahir Salim Soud, do you really care about Muslims who have paid ground rates for decades and are being asked to pay exorbitant price for land they’ve built their houses?
Isn’t this typically capitalistic path that profits is more important above humanity?
Tafakari
Khelf abdurahman khalifa, Muslims yes liars no I don’t
Ume ishi kwa ardhi ya mwenyewe na unalipa kodi hata ukalipa miaka alfu bado utakuwa mmiliki wa kukodisha so haimanishi kama tumelipa kodi miaka yote leo itawakosesha haki war itho was Liwali wa kwanza wa Mombasa Salim bin Khalfan.
Basi kama mwataka kuwapokonya Naomba misingi hio hio munaoichukua kwa Salim bin khalfan ichukuliwe kuwapokonya ardhi warithi wa Uhuru Kenyata
There is a serious conflict of interest that historically benefited those strategically positioned to gain unjustly from their positions… This is what pertains to historical injustices that MUST be one day addressed according to krieggler report… I’d request the beneficiaries to go slow in selling this land because in due course,, it may return to haunt them…acquisition and ownership must be proven,, otherwise handling stolen property is also an offence under the LAWS OF KENYA..
Khelef abdurahman Mohamed Khalifa don’t start throwing stones when ur house is made of glass.
Khelef Abdulrahman Mohamed Khalifa, you got it wrong
Khelef Abdulrahman Mohamed Khalifa, you got it wrong
My bad khelef abdurahman Khalifa Mohamed. Get your facts straight before talking when you have no proof of your claims.
Just a friendly advice
Khelef, I did address that issue at the NLC (off course you were not present during the sittings. But I would gladly shed light I onto the subject (enlighten the public) on any platform
Kindly name your classroom
In response to your posting dated 05 Aug 2020, I wish to enlighten you on pertinent points:
1. Where are the supporting documents of Mr Rajab’s claims re Public Trustee, because since you had said you would only investigate an issue on the provision of original ( not fake) documents
2. Mr Rajab was a senior government official as Mayor of Mombasa for 2 years, fm 1972 to 1974 ( 48 years ago) why didn’t he bring this up with the government at that time if there was any truth in the matter?
3. He mentioned 1902 when the British came that they gave the Title deeds of the lands to Liwali Salim bin Khalfan as Public Trust.
4. Salim bin Khalifan came to Kenya well before the British in approximately 1856, accompanying Sultan Seyyid Said.
5. He amassed his wealth ( thru personal toil) in 1850s- 60s BEFORE he was appointed as Liwali.
6. The title of Liwali was conferred upon him (by the Sultan of Zanzibar) upon his appointment.
7. For clarification, the word Liwali means Governor in this context.
8. When the land documents were officiated by the British he used this title which he held at the time.
9. The statement of Mr Rajab emphatically claiming that the lands were given to Salim bin Khalifan as Public Trustee, he fails to state that they were given to him by whom?
10. As an example of using a title, Liwali Seif bin Salim built a masjid in Lamu ( while he was a Liwali there) and named it Liwali Seif bin Salim Masjid ( it stands there to this day under that name).
11. Sir Ali bin Salim built the Malindi School and the Mambrui Primary School and named both with his name and Title.
12. Salim Road which has since been renamed Digo Road was land of Salim bin Khalfan which he donated to the British government for the building of the road
13. He also donated the land for Sports Club in Mombasa to the British Forces for recreation
14. And he donated his land for the burial grounds for Christians ( opposite the sports ground).
15. Mr Rajab’s clip was replied to by a gentleman named Mr Abubakar Amana.
16. You did not bother to research to any counter statement of Mr Rajab but accepted his one sided opinion as ‘gospel’
17. Therefore (as I see it ) you failed to abide by your self proclaimed claim to impartiality.
Furthermore, the Question here is why/ how could Salim bin Khalfan take Public Trustee land and donate it the British Govt as his own personal land?
The British were the ruling government at that time, so if that had been the case, they would definitely have not permitted this practice.
Moreover, any title deed of Trust land (since the British era) would clearly have a name of the person followed by ‘being the first Trustee’, a practice that has henceforth been adopted by the Kenya Govt.
I am not certain if you have read a recently published non- fictional book about Sir Ali written by Judy Aldrich entitled ‘Sir Ali bin Salim And the Making of Mombasa’.
The lady, a renowned author, had resided in Kenya for 22 years and who authenticated the facts in the book by exhaustive and intensive research, not only in the archives in Mombasa and Nairobi, but in London and Oman as well. In it she chronologically explains the sequence of events which throw light on the history of this Family.
This book, therefore, should have been the basis of your research before resorting to write a unsubstantiated article.
If you had conclusive evidence you should have attached it to your article to lend it credibility.
What continues to make me wonder is what induced you to write a one- sided account and what objectives did you hope to achieve.
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I am not sure if we are reading from the same script.
You cannot justify the land ownership tenure. A century and half ago, majority of indigenous Coastal inhabitants were poor, uneducated, and oblivious of the value of land ownership. Neither Salim bin Khalfan nor his son Sir Ali bin Salim, ever threatened them with evictions or selling the land at exorbitant prices.
It will be interesting to find out if the inhabitants of Mombasa during the reign of Salim bin Khalfan or his son, were made to pay land rates for houses built on the contested land. At the time, majority of the occupants were Muslims.
The good work and the generosity of Salim bin Khalfan and Sir Ali bin Salim is threatened by their grandchildren, who values profit over humanity. They are driven by greed.
Many Kenyans regard heirs of Salim bin Khalfan as non-Kenyans, colonial occupants who live abroad. They think the heirs should not own such huge chunks of land at the expense of Muslims majority, who physically occupy the land and continues to pay land rates.
Ethnic Kikuyus get castigated for the greed of Kenyatta family that illegally amassed huge parcels. Like Kikuyus, Kenyan-Arabs are facing similar verbal attacks because of acts of the heirs of Salim bin Khalfan and Sir Ali bin Salim.
I am not casting aspersion on the integrity of Salim bin Khalfan and Sir Ali bin Salim. In the contrary, they were noble with distinctive qualities unlike the Kenyattas who also got the land for free – but ended up subdividing and selling them at a market value, mostly to poor Kikuyu peasants. Kenyattas never donated any of their grabbed land unlike Salim bin Khalfan and Sir Ali bin Salim.
My concerns have been – and remains – the inevitable displacement of Muslims from their houses, built by their grandparents. They have been paying land rates rents for decades. For instance, a family has been occupying a Swahili house in Mji wa Kale, Mombasa for almost a century, has been forced to pay a staggering Sh1.7 million. How many families can afford this? What will happen if there is a willing buyer, especially a non-native? It means indigenous Mombasa community, many Muslims, who are currently occupying the disputed parcels, will be displaced. The parcels have very high sentimental values attached to them.
The land question in Kenya is emotive, often against people in the past and present authorities, including Salim bin Khalfan and Sir Ali bin Salim, who amassed huge chunks of land, especially in urban areas where people live.
None is talking about British settlers anymore because they were compensated. However, at the Coast, the UK government paid compensation to the Sultan of Zanzibar for the land and lost revenues. But the land has never been reverted to Kenya government where it can be freely handed over to inhabitants. This is the reason behind the acrimony.
My sentiments have got nothing to do with Rajab Sumba even though he brought up valid arguments.
Rajab Sumba ni mnati na anayo haki ya kujitetea na kutetea watu wa Mombasa.
Mr Khelef Khalifa, you are doing a great job and I am sure you’re instrumental on this blog. I know what the British have done and I am trying to get hold of the good evidence from British archive. They British made colonial title deeds With most of the land given as present from the British monarchy. These colonial deeds if Uhuru wants can make them ineffective and return land to the indigenous People or decided equal amongst squatters because these events could even destabilise the coastal region.
A lot here are supporting this Khalfan Royal family made by the British and his family are no different to the British land grabbers always talk nonsense because they have no legitimate title deeds. This is contemporary colonialism handed over by the British and the we call them Muslims, far from that they might as well start going in the church.
A few here we’re trying to undermine my grandfather Mr Rajab Sumba, there is nothing more for him to prove himself he was a great politician and despised corruption, a real Muslim long live inshaallah mzee Sumba. Government needs to do something about the land issues or else citizens will speak and possibly take action.
Maa’sallam
Mombasa is way much older than the British, why would the British favour “Muslims over” the “colonial kenya”. Bro it the people of Mombasa who gave the British presents in return for liberties like the most celebrated QADHIS courts
Simple facts of reality,you cannot charge people rates over years and expect to sell them the land at exorbitant prices. That will never happen. If the government doesnt step in,we the would be victims will have to take neccessary action to stop this madness. We are following this saga and they should not think we dont know what is happening. We even know how ill they treat our wazees whom we have forwaded to find an amicable solution to this issue.