Mwavadu Mng’aru had lived as a
squatter for years.
Known in the community for
his kindness and dedication while
working as a caretaker, life has ironically been anything but kind to him.
However, for the first time in years, the 72-year-old has a place to call home in Masindeni village, Msamb- weni, Kwale county.
Now old and frail, Mng’aru had resigned himself to life as a squatter, surviving on the kindness of neighbors and well-wishers.
He was deserted by his family and had long given up any dreams of stability and dignity. In 2022, residents at Mwaloya village within Msambweni were compensated and relocated, paving the way for the Australian mining company, Base Titanium, to conduct mining activities in the area.
While many were resettled, Mng’aru, who had no land of his own, was left to his own devices.
Alone and hopeless, his plight reached the ears of villagers and Base Titanium, who felt obliged to assist him.
Moved by his story, Base Titanium stepped in, building him a modest, sturdy home on a one-acre plot. “I can’t believe I have a key to my own home and land,” Mng’aru said, his voice thick with emotion as he clutched his title deed.
“Dreams of owning a home were long buried under years of hardship.” For Mng’aru, this home symbolises more than shelter—it is a beacon of hope. The elderly man recounted the unbearable life he had endured.
“For years, I didn’t feel like myself. But now, with land and a house, I feel whole again,” he narrated.
With a renewed sense of purpose, he vowed to make the most of his new-found life. Already, his land is alive with maize, bananas, mango trees and cassava, promising sustenance and self-sufficiency he had once thought impossible.
“Hunger will no longer be a problem,” he said, his face alight with hope. Yet, one dream remains close to his heart: reuniting with his three children whom he has not seen in years.
Mng’aru hopes his newfound stability will pave the way for reconciliation and bring his family back together. “I yearn to heal old wounds and share this comfort with my family,” he said.
Peter Ngei, a neighbour and Northern Dune Resettlement Committee member, played a pivotal role in advocating for Mng’aru.
The old man lived like a squatter, with no family to lean on, he said, adding that as a community, they felt it was their duty to ensure he was cared for.
“We used to support him with food and shelter. When the relocation came, leaving him behind was heartbreaking,” Ngei said.
He is grateful Base Titanium heeded their call, as Simon Wall, the organisation’s External Affairs General Manager, praised the resettlement committee for highlighting vulnerable cases like Mng’aru’s.
“This collaboration shows how we’ve worked together to improve the livelihoods of communities affected by mining activities,” he said.
Mng’aru’s home underscores the positive impact of Base Titanium’s projects. “It will be remembered as one of the many lives transformed by our initiatives,” he said.
Christine Mwaka, Base Titanium’s Social Engagement Manager, reiterated the company’s commitment to uplifting local communities.
She said Mng’aru had lived more than 30 years without a decent house and now has a home and land with a title deed in his name.
Mwaka advised the old man not to sell the land or the house and ensure it was well maintained. Kinondo chief, Riga Ali, commended the company for aligning its efforts with the government’s affordable housing agenda.
“This gesture supports national goals of ensuring every citizen has access to decent housing,” he said.
The local administrator urged
other companies to emulate Base
Titanium’s impactful actions and
bring positive change to surround-
ing communities.