Village Meeting Turns Chaotic as Long-Hidden Land Disputes Resurface With Painful Truths
The village meeting was called to restore peace, but it ended up reopening wounds that had been buried for decades. Under the old mango tree at the center of Kanyimbo Village, elders sat on wooden benches while residents gathered around in small groups. The agenda was simple: to discuss boundaries and community harmony. But the air was tense even before the meeting began. Some people avoided eye contact. Others whispered angrily, waiting for a chance to speak.
For years, the land issue had been ignored. Families had planted crops, built homes, and buried loved ones on land whose ownership was never clearly resolved. Everyone knew the truth was fragile, but no one wanted to be the one to break it. When the village chairman stood up and opened the meeting, his voice shook slightly. He urged calm, respect, and honesty. Few knew that honesty was about to cause an explosion.
As soon as the floor was opened, Mr. Odhiambo, an elderly man with a walking stick, stood up. His voice trembled with anger. “This land was taken from my father,” he said. “We were chased away while we were still children.” Murmurs spread through the crowd. Another man jumped up, shouting, “That is a lie! Your father sold that land himself.” The meeting instantly turned heated.
