The Struggle of the Ndukakika Community; A Fight for Ancestral Land

The Ngukakika community, residing in the Kibwezi region in Makueni County, has faced a deep and painful history of land grabbing and human rights violations that have affected generations. These injustices, primarily stemming from the actions of the DWA Sisal Plantation, date back to the early 20th century, and have deprived the community of their ancestral lands and livelihoods. The seizure of their land, coupled with continued displacement, destruction of their environment, and neglect by both the government and corporations, has led to a cycle of poverty, trauma, and loss of cultural heritage in the Ndukakika community.
The Ngukakika people have consistently called for justice, but despite their enduring fight for their rights, the Kenyan government and relevant authorities have failed to adequately address their grievances. As an organization committed to promoting human rights, justice, and accountability, Haki Africa is actively supporting the Ngukakika community, working with them through legal avenues and direct advocacy. Our goal has always been to amplify their voices and ensure they receive the reparations and justice they deserve.

Haki Africa’s Engagement with the Ngukakika Community

Haki Africa’s Executive Director, Yusuf Aboubakar and Rapid Response Officer, Mathias Shipeta, with the Ngukakika community.

In its unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of marginalized communities, Haki Africa stands with the Ngukakika community in their struggle for justice and restoration of their ancestral lands. On October 30, 2024, Haki Africa conducted a legal aid clinic in Kibwezi town, offering essential guidance and exploring pathways for justice to empower the community in asserting their land ownership rights.

During this engagement, the legal team provided strategic counsel to help community members navigate complex land reclamation processes. This initiative also included a community dialogue that allowed the Ngukakika people to share their harrowing experiences, voice their demands, and unify in their resolve to seek justice. Their determination to reclaim their land remains steadfast, despite the systemic challenges they face.

In the words of one Ngukakika community member, ‘We have been violently robbed of our ancestral land, our livelihoods shattered, and our voices silenced for generations, but despite the pain and loss, we continue to fight with unwavering strength for justice and the return of what is rightfully ours.’

Historical Injustices and Human Rights Violations

1.Land Grabbing and Environmental Destruction
The community has raised concerns over the unlawful seizure of over 21,205 acres of their ancestral land by DWA Sisal Plantation. Between 1915 and 1930, they claim they were coerced into fraudulent 999-year lease agreements, effectively stripping them of their land and access to essential resources for survival.

Additionally, the community has highlighted the severe environmental destruction caused by the plantation, including deforestation that led to soil erosion, valley formation, and pollution of natural water sources, such as the Kibwezi River. These actions, they report, have contributed to outbreaks of diseases like cholera and typhoid, further exacerbating their living conditions. According to them, the government’s failure to enforce Article 69 of the Kenyan Constitution, which mandates environmental protection, has compounded their plight.

2.Forced Evictions, Human Rights Violations, and Abuse
The community has reported facing forced evictions orchestrated by DWA Sisal Plantation, often involving violence and coercion. Entire villages were displaced, with homes, assets, and livelihoods destroyed, leaving many families to live as landless squatters.

They have also shared accounts of sexual violence, torture, and abuse of power perpetrated by security forces and local authorities. These human rights violations have caused immense physical and emotional suffering, leaving lasting scars on both individuals and families.

3.Malicious Crop Damage and Water Contamination
The community recalls instances of malicious crop damage, particularly in 1979 and 1995, when DWA Sisal Plantation sprayed toxic chemicals on their farmland, devastating crops and resulting in significant financial losses.

They further report that by 2015, the Ngumbe spring—a critical water source—had dried up due to activities linked to the plantation. This has severely limited their access to clean water, aggravating the already dire situation.

Haki Africa’s Advocacy Efforts and the Unanswered Call

In response to these grievances, Haki Africa formally petitioned the National Land Commission (NLC) on November 11, 2024, detailing the injustices inflicted by DWA Sisal Plantation. The letter urged the NLC to address the community’s claims urgently.

Despite this initiative, no response has been received, underscoring a troubling lack of accountability from the authorities.

Call to Action

HAKI Africa stands in unwavering support of the Ngukakika community’s struggle to reclaim their ancestral land and demand reparations for the historical injustices they have endured. This fight transcends the issue of land—it is a battle for dignity, justice, and the preservation of fundamental human rights.

The Ndukakika Community with HAKI Africa’s Excecutive Director

The time for justice is long overdue. HAKI Africa calls upon all Kenyans, human rights organizations, and concerned individuals to unite and amplify the voices of the Ngukakika community. Together, we can demand justice and hold accountable those responsible for decades of oppression, exploitation, and environmental destruction.

This is not just about restoring the Ngukakika community’s rightful land; it is about securing their future, safeguarding human rights, and ensuring that no community is left behind in the pursuit of justice. Let us stand together in solidarity to make this vision a reality.

#justiceforNdukakika #forHAKI

By Fahima Fahmi

Haki Africa Communications Team

15/01/2025