Shanzu MCA Arrested For Allegedly Leading Illegal Land Protest

By George Otieno

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Shanzu ward member of County Assembly (MCA) Allen Katana was on Monday, September 8, 2025 arrested for leading protesters against land injustices in Kisauni Constituency.

Katana, accompanied by land rights defenders, was confronted by police who used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators who were headed to Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir’s office to present their grievances.

He was later released on a Ksh5,000 bond together with other 7 suspects.

Mombasa police commander Peter Kimani had earlier stated that the civic leader along seven others were arrested and expected to arraigned in court tomorrow (Tuesday) to face multiple charges, including assaulting and injuring two police officers.

 “Assaulting a police officer is a serious crime. We are processing the politician before he is arraigned in court tomorrow,” he said. 

The police boss cautioned Kenyans against demonstrating without a permit, noting that the law requires police to be notified three days in advance.

“Apply for a permit three days prior to ensure compliance with the law. This politician did not do so, meaning he broke the law,” he added.

The MCA was held at the Central Police Station, with efforts by Mombasa deputy governor Francis Thoya to secure his release that morning proving unsuccessful.

However, the DG urged Kisauni residents to remain patient saying the governor had promised to visit them before the end of this week to address their concerns.

“The Governor will visit Kisauni soon to engage residents. He is not evading them but he will go and see them.”

He called on thr residents not to politicise the land issue, emphasizing that the governor acknowledged their problem.

“Land problems are very emotive and they don’t need to be politicised or dire allegations made. We will get a solution to this problem. It’s solvable.”

Land activists led by John Paul Obonyo from Haki Yetu have demanded the implementation of dispute resolution mechanism to deal with emerging land issues.

He stated that the county land department was yet to start mapping of the six sub-counties questioning why there was no concrete plan for land acquisition and resettlement despite the county allocating Ksh50 million for the initiative.

“We urge the governor to prioritize land issues so we can find solutions,” he said. 

The Haki Yetu official alleged that unscrupulous, powerful individuals have begun exploiting the situation to grab land from residents.

John Tsuma, a resident of Mombasa, echoed Obonyo’s sentiments accusing the governor of avoiding to meet Kisauni residents so as to address the land issue.

He claimed there were attempts to force locals to obtain permits before meeting the governor expressing frustration over governor’s repeated postponement of meetings with the protesters.

“We invited him to a meeting, but he didn’t show up. We scheduled another meeting, and he still didn’t come. The third time, we decided that if the governor cannot come to us, we will go to his office in town,” he said.

Police reported the loss of a police walkie-talkie, and injuries to two officers during the confrontation.

For the past month, Kisauni residents have repeatedly attempted to storm the governor’s office to submit a petition, but police and county enforcement officers have thwarted these efforts on several occasions.