In 2016, the National Treasury signed a Sh23 billion loan with China Exim Bank for construction of the Kibwezi-Mutomo-Kitui road. The 192km road is the first phase of the upgrade that will cover a 472km stretch with the financing for the second and third phases to be signed later.
However, a village with over 38 households and a population of about 350 people has been undergoing a 19-year cry for justice over land wrangles which recently drew attention as one tycoon from the area is alleged to be forcing them to vacate the village.
Their agony worsened after the sale of a graveyard belonging to one late Mutuku Mutunga.
“Skulls among other body parts of the human skeleton from different dead bodies used to be ferried daily by the (Chinese company) trucks to the construction site of the road, something that we feel is a disgrace and disrespect of the highest order to the dead,” one of the neighbours said.
The tycoon claimed its possession and sold the land to a Chinese company Synohydro, which is constructing the Kibwezi-Kitui road.
The graveyard is said to belong to the family of the late Mutuku Mutunga and accommodates 36 graves; some of them have been destroyed.
The verdict which was issued on June 26, 1991, determined a ruling that was signed by then Mutomo District Commissioner Mr Martin Oloo among other four key witnesses whose signatures were appended.
Despite the court ruling, the battle over the land reemerged with the tycoon who went on to involve the members of the clan but they ruled in favour of the widow.
After further interrogations, Citizen Digital established that the death of Mutuku Mutunga and his first two wives may have motivated the tycoon to ignite battle for ownership of Kiteta village.
Miss Mukai, one of the residents, said up to today she is still mourning the loss she incurred after all her 14 houses were razed to the ground.
“The paid goons who razed my home forced my husband to vacate our ancestral land, a situation that forced me to move to court to see whether justice could be found to relieve our pain, but we never reached any solution, I think the truth may have been compromised,” Mukai alleged.
Maria Mutuku is the only remaining family member from the home who has been left to follow the matter.
She has also pleaded with the government to intervene and ensure her children have a place to call home.