Nairobi — More than 70 orphaned children will have to spent a second night in the cold after a private developer demolished their orphanage and a Madrassa at Kanamai in Kilifi district.

The children aged between 5 and 14 years were rendered homeless after the developer hired goons to demolish more than five houses which accommodated them.

More than ten houses were also demolished by the developer who claimed he has legally acquired the 20 acre piece of land which belongs to former Chief Kadhi Sheikh Nasor Nahdy.

During the demolition, several people who were opposing the exercise, among them a son of former Chief Kadhi Ahmed Ali were arrested by police officers who accompanied the goons to expedite the exercise.

Ms Fatma Sharrif, the owner of the Madrassa and the orphanage said they were leased the piece of land by former Chief Kadhi to build an orpharnage and a Madrassa in the past three years.

"We have built several houses for the children and now we have to stay in the cold while young children sleep in the mosque," said Ms Sharrif.

Sheikh Nahdy said he legally owns the land since he had all the required documents to prove his ownership. He said he was shocked by the move by the developer who demolished the house without informing the occupants.

"I have title deed for the land and I was shocked to hear the developer has acquired a court order claiming the land belongs to him and it is occupied by people without his knowledge," the former Chief Kadhi said at Mtwapa police station where he had gone to pay a bond for his son who was arrested.

Sheikh Nahdy said more than 210 children who depend on the madrassa will have to look for another school to continue with their lessons as they solve the matter in court.

Contacted, Mohammed Bahamish, one of the people who allegedly led the eviction exercise declined to give any information about the piece of land.