Residents of Kilifi County on Wednesday, August 19, held a demonstration protesting actions by a salt company set to construct a plant in the area.
The residents of Garite Village in Magarini Sub-county claimed that the company, Munyu Salt, had not consulted them before embarking on the project.
They further claimed that the company's management was in the process of clearing the area's mangrove forest and had cut down trees on a 40-acre piece of land.
They also claimed that the firm had not followed proper procedures in setting up the company.
"We live because of the coconut plants. If the water becomes salty, the plants will wither and where will we, and our children live?" questioned one of the protesters.
The company's establishment is set to affect more than 2,000 families who benefit from the coastal ecosystem.
Malindi forum activist Peter Komora joined the protesters in calling for the government to revoke the project until proper consultations are made.
"The community and I are calling for the revocation of this project especially for the destruction caused by the cutting down of trees in this area," stated the activist.
He further called for the company to be fined, especially after cutting down trees on such a vast parcel of land.
"Besides fining, Munyu Salt should be compelled to restore the environment as it had been previously," he added.
Kilifi County Speaker Kadhua Jimmy Kahindi concurred with the protesters demanding the state to take action against the company.
"It should be understood that residents have been drawing clean water from this area. We have witnessed that the water has been becoming salty," stated the speaker.
The video showed that the land was fast turning into a semi-arid area.
Below is the video of the protests:
MZOZO WA CHUMVI
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 19, 2020
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