By Kemuma Achieng
Victor Katana Mganga, the personal assistant to a Member of Parliament from Kenya's Coast region, has been charged with malicious damage to property and conspiracy to commit a felony in connection with a contentious land dispute in Kilifi South.
Katana appeared before the Shanzu Law Courts on Wednesday, where he denied the charges stemming from an alleged illegal attempt to seize a three-acre parcel of land. The property, subdivided into three one-acre plots, is at the center of a dispute that has reignited long-standing tensions around land ownership in the region.
According to prosecutors, Katana is accused of overseeing the destruction of a perimeter wall constructed by the rightful landowner in June 2024. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) authorized the charges following investigations by Kilifi South detectives, who reportedly gathered sufficient evidence linking Katana to the incident.
Chief Magistrate Florence Macharia ordered Katana to be remanded at Shimo la Tewa Prison until June 11, pending a pre-bail report. The court noted the seriousness of the allegations and the heightened public interest in the case due to Katana’s political connections.
“The deliberate damage to private property with the aim of unlawfully acquiring land is a serious offence, especially in a region grappling with systemic land injustices,” the prosecution told the court.
Land disputes remain a volatile issue in Kilifi County and across Kenya’s coastal strip, where historical grievances, irregular land allocations, and political interference have fueled long-running conflicts. Observers say the case may signal a renewed effort by authorities to address land grabbing involving politically connected individuals.
Katana’s defense team has dismissed the charges as politically motivated and vowed to challenge the evidence presented by investigators.
The court’s ruling on bail next week is expected to draw significant attention, as local residents, land rights activists, and political watchers await further developments in a case that highlights the intersection of power and land ownership in Kenya.
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