An elderly woman from Kitui County is crying out for help after her identity documents and land title deeds were forcefully taken by her children when she refused to sell her land. Esther Syombua Kamundi, who hails from Unyaa Village, Kyangwithya West in Kitui Central Constituency, says her children turned against her when she rejected their demands to sell the land to a buyer they had found.
Speaking to reporters from her homestead today, Syombua shared that her life has been plagued by fear, receiving death threats from her own children ever since the failed land sale. The dispute has not only strained their relationship but also left her fearing for her safety.
“I no longer see eye to eye with my own blood. They’ve taken my land documents, and they don’t talk to me anymore because I refused to sell my land. Now, I live in constant fear for my life,” Syombua told the press.
Land disputes involving family members have been on the rise in Kitui and the wider Lower Eastern region. As land continues to become more valuable, cases of children pressuring their aging parents to sell family land have increased, sometimes leading to threats and even violence. These conflicts often stem from economic hardships, with children seeing land as a quick solution to financial struggles, while parents like Syombua wish to preserve their ancestral heritage.
Many elders find themselves in vulnerable positions, as they are often coerced into selling land that they view as a key family asset. In Syombua’s case, she firmly opposed the idea of selling, leading to a rift between her and her four children.
Syombua is now calling upon local authorities to help her recover her identity documents and land title deed, which were taken by her children. She also fears for her life and is asking the police to provide her with protection. “Vamwe na ndongoi ilikiliile na kumutetheesya kukwata mavalua make ma itheka na kivande kyake ila waweta ta syosiwe ni syana syake 4 na kuema nasyo” (Together with the threats, they forcibly took my land title and identity documents, and now my four children no longer talk to me), she said in her native Kamba.
Local administrators and police have been urged to take swift action to summon Syombua’s children and resolve the matter. In the meantime, the elderly woman remains in a precarious situation, hoping her public appeal will prompt immediate intervention.
This incident serves as a reminder of the growing issue of land disputes within families in the region. As the value of land continues to rise, more families are finding themselves at odds over its ownership and sale, putting elders like Syombua in dangerous and emotionally charged situations.
