The government was yesterday urged to resettle members of the Bajuni community who fled their villages in Kiunga Division, Lamu, during the shifta insurgency of the 1960s and 1970s.

Sheikh Kombo Zira castigated the government for allegedly marginalising the community. Speaking on behalf of the Bajuni, Sheikh Zira argued they were Kenyans like other communities and it was unfair for the government to mistreat them.

He said the Bajuni had abandoned their homes in Sideni, Shangaa, Rubu Vundeni and Shuweei villages during the shifta crisis and the government had done nothing to re-settle the homeless families to this day.

Sheikh Zira, who spoke to the Nation in Mombasa yesterday, said that instead of the government helping to resolve the issue, it had allocated tracts of beach land to "politicians, influential tycoons and upcountry people''.

A survey conducted by the Nation revealed that hundreds of beach-front acres in Lamu had been allocated to powerful politicians, top government officers and local leaders who had already sold it to foreigners at huge profits.

Sheikh Zira added that the Bajuni who fled their homes were ready to return if the government protected them and guaranteed their security and deployed police in the area.

Sheikh Zira expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of land survey and issuance of title deeds in the district.

He said wananchi in most parts of the country were issued with title deeds and could use their land as security in seeking credit from financial institutions.

Sheikh Zira challenged the State to explain why it had neglected the Bajuni, when most of them were supporters of the ruling party and the government.

On the issuance of passports and national identity cards, Sheikh Zira said Bajuni were mistreated when they sought these documents.

He alleged that they were treated and handled with much suspicion. He wondered why this was not the case with any other community.

Sheikh Zira insisted it was time the government changed its attitude towards the Bajuni.