THE take over of the Kilifi DC's office by the newly appointed County Commissioner was yesterday marked by protests and confusion. Leaders and residents, who had gone to see DC Benjamin Gachichio, were shocked when they were told by the secretary that the office had been taken over by Maalim Mohamed, the newly appointed County Commissioner.

However, this did not go down well with the locals, who asked the government to ensure that the area DC re-occupies his office. Speaking at a press conference in a Kilifi hotel, the Kilifi Town Council chairlady Esther Kache said Mohamed should vacate the office until the case over the row on appointment of county commissioners by President Kibaki is concluded.

She raised fears that the development plans which the DC had initiated may not be realised because he has no office to operate from. "We have very nice development plans with the DC which we feel they will not take place because we do not know where to meet him now" said Kache. She urged the government to stop the deployment of the officers until the county governments are in place.

Kilifi district Chamber of Commerce and Industry official Jacob Saleri asked the government to find another office for Mohamed within seven days failure to which they will protest and lock the office.

Saleri said the manner into which Mohamed took over the DC's office was callous and aimed at undermining the DC's work.

Youth leader Caleb Otieno said the youth will support the residents call for Mohamed to vacate the DC's office. "The DC now has only two options, to occupy the DO1 office or the office for DO Bahari, this cannot happen under our watch," said Otieno.