The Kilifi County Government has been ordered to pay landowners Ksh 50 million as compensation for damaging the value of the land in Malindi

“The Kilifi County Government has been ordered to pay landowners Ksh 50 million as compensation for damaging the value of the land in Malindi, which has been used as a landfill for many years.The Environmental and Land Court also ordered the county to pay Ms. Amina Said Abdalla, Mr. Omar Said Swaleh, and Mr. Ahmed Said Swaleh, the owners of the land, Ksh 5 million for continuing to use the 36-acre piece of land in Casuarina.Justice Evans Makori also issued an injunction preventing the Kilifi County Government or its employees from disposing of waste on the land or engaging in any activities that harm the environment.The judge stated that it would be the responsibility of the county government to ensure that environmental pollution on that land and in the surrounding area is halted.He added that the county government failed to follow the proper procedures in establishing a landfill as required by law, including the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report from NEMA and obtaining the necessary permits.He said the owners of the land have confirmed that it is no longer viable and cannot be sold as intended due to its decreased value caused by the waste dumped there since the days of the Kilifi Municipality.”