Panic struck residents of Taita Taveta County bringing activities to a halt after 500 people gathered for a ritual at land that was owned by former Member of Parliament (MP) Basil Criticos.
According to the Ministry of Interior officials, the participants extracted blood from sheep they slaughtered at the venue mixed it with herbs and sprinkled it on the three-acre land.
Locals did not understand the significance of the ritual and they proceeded to alert chiefs to investigate the matter.
The authorities were forced to cancel a public participation forum that had been organised after residents expressed fears over the ritual.
[caption caption="File image ex-MP Basil Criticos (left) with a land official "]
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Citing orders from above, the local area administrators told journalists that they had been asked to restore calm among the residents.
"We have been told to hold meetings to tell residents that the event was conducted on private property and that it has nothing to do with the general public.
"The land in which the ceremony was conducted was bought by a few individuals who want to protect it," a chief who declined to be named told The Standard on Monday.
Taveta OCPD Joel Chesire confirmed that the ritual had taken place and insisted that it was hosted as a private affair under a permit issued by his office.
"The police were notified and provided security to the event organisers. Those who attended the event from outside were invited by their relatives and friends living there," he stated.
The parcel of land was seized by the Settlement Transfer Fund from the ex-MP in 2008 with the intention of settling a number of squatters.
Concerns were, however, raised when it was discovered that some of those who were to be resettled on the land were non-locals.
[caption caption="File image of Taveta town council"]
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