Maragua Member of Parliament Mary Wamaua was forced to flee Kimorori Grounds in Kenol, Murang’a County, on Monday afternoon after being confronted by a furious crowd opposed to a proposed development project on the land.
Videos circulating on social media show a visibly tense scene as residents shouted and surged toward the MP, who was escorted away by security officers, including police.
The residents’ anger stems from ongoing plans to develop Kimorori Grounds an area they say serves as a crucial recreational space for the community.
Sources claim that part of the land may be earmarked for the government’s Affordable Housing Programme, though official plans suggest otherwise.
Tensions over the future of the grounds have been building since 2022, when the Maragua NG-CDF committee allocated sh24 million for the construction of several government facilities, including sub-county headquarters, an ICT centre, and a modern court.
According to a recent Kenya News Agency (KNA) report, local youth have vehemently opposed the plan, insisting the field should remain dedicated to sports and community wellness activities.
“We use this field to train and play every day after our hustles. Sometimes there are over 15 teams here. If they take it away, where will we go? Some of us will be forced into crime,” one youth said.
Another added, “Instead of taking the entire field, why not build proper washrooms or dressing rooms for us? This place keeps us engaged, helps with our mental health, and brings us together as a community.”
Despite the uproar, MP Wamaua stood firm. In an interview with KNA, she maintained that the development would go ahead, asserting that the land had been legally earmarked for government offices not housing.
“There is no land grabbing here,” she said. “How can someone grab a security powerhouse and build houses? We are constructing legitimate government offices to serve the people.”
Still, public sentiment remains largely against the project, with residents urging the government to find alternative land for the proposed developments in order to preserve one of the area’s few remaining public recreational spaces.
