Members of the famous Charo Shutu family in Malindi town Kilifi County led by Japhet Noti Charo inspect their 475 acre piece of land on Friday, November 7, 2025 that they claim the Kilifi County government through Governor Gideon Mung’aro want to takeover without the family’s involvement. Cases of attempted land grabbing and demolitions are rampant in Kilifi County leaving many residents counting losses. Photo By Ben Okweingoti 
By Ben Okweingoti
A family in Malindi town, Kilifi County, is accusing the county government of attempting to grab their 475-acre parcel of land to construct a modern stadium against their will.
The family of the late Mzee Charo Shutu, a respected elder who reportedly owned vast parcels of land in the area, claims Governor Gideon Mung’aro made a misleading social media post indicating plans to buy the land from the Bohora Community for the project.
Japhet Noti Charo Shutu, the son of the late Charo Shutu and head of the family, expressed shock at the governor’s post, saying it falsely portrayed the land as belonging to the Bohora Community.
Speaking to journalists at the contested property in Ngalla Estate—already fenced with a perimeter wall—Noti said the matter had previously been in court, and the ruling affirmed that the land legally belongs to the Shutu family.
According to Noti, a government survey confirmed that the Bohora Community’s land lies on the southern side of Ngalla Estate, separated from their property by a road. He questioned why the county would seek to compensate the Bohora Community for land that does not belong to them.
“I was shocked by the governor’s post claiming partnership with the Bohora Community to take over this land. This property belongs to the Charo Shutu family, and we have all the documents to prove ownership,” he said.
Noti urged Governor Mung’aro to engage directly with his family over the land matter instead of involving third parties. He clarified that their land is registered as M5R Malindi, while the Bohora Community’s parcel is Plot Number 211.
“I completely reject this plan. The governor should look for another piece of land. This one belongs to the Shutu family,” he asserted.
A social media post attributed to Governor Mung’aro partly read:
“Nimeongea na Bohora Community mambo ya ile kiwanja kikubwa pale Muyeye… wamekubali nirudishe pesa kidogo walikuwa wamelipa hapo mbeleni ili tukichukue na tujenge kiwanja cha mpira pale Malindi.”
Johnson Hinzano, a Kaya elder and close associate of Noti, backed the family’s claim, insisting that the land rightfully belongs to the Shutu family.
“This is his land. He inherited it from his late father, and even before independence, records showed that Mzee Charo Shutu had power of attorney and was later allocated the land,” Hinzano said.
The family has vowed to resist any attempt by the county government to take over their ancestral land, insisting they will protect what rightfully belongs to them.
