Meru accused of grabbing land
Meru county governor Peter Munya addresses journalists during at Outspan hotel in Nyeri on August 31, 2013. Photo/ JOSEPH KANYI
What you need to know:
- Isiolo county assembly members accused the provincial administration of failing to provide security in the area.
- Lands and Settlement Executive member Suleiman Shunu alleged that neighbouring counties had encroached on Isiolo land such that it was not possible to travel across the county without passing through other counties’ districts.
- County commissioner Wanyama Musiambo defended the provincial administration, saying the county assembly was dragging its feet in completing a report that would help end the dispute.
County political leaders have accused national government officials of bias towards Meru in a boundary dispute.
Isiolo county assembly members accused the provincial administration of failing to provide security in the area.
The dispute took a new twist last week when Meru Governor Peter Munya inaugurated a livestock market near Ngare Mara, which is part of the disputed area, in what Isiolo leaders described as “economic warfare”.
They and the national government officials faced off during Mashujaa Day celebrations at the Isiolo stadium.
The county leaders accused the provincial administration of failing to stop development activities on the disputed areas until the matter was resolved.
The county assembly members also demanded to know the position of their governor, Mr Godana Doyo and his deputy, Mr Mohamed Guleid, on the matter.
AVOIDED CONFRONTATION
Mr Guleid, who presided over the ceremony, avoided confrontation and called for restraint to allow the dispute to be handled within the law.
“Leaders are not happy about the building of the market inside Isiolo,” said the deputy governor, who also insisted that the right procedure be followed in solving the three-month -old dispute.
Lands and Settlement Executive member Suleiman Shunu alleged that neighbouring counties had encroached on Isiolo land such that it was not possible to travel across the county without passing through other counties’ districts.
Mr Shunu accused the Meru county government of using the provincial administration to steal land from Isiolo. He said the county assembly had prepared documents for resolving the dispute lawfully but Meru should be stopped from undertaking further provocations.
County commissioner Wanyama Musiambo defended the provincial administration, saying the county assembly was dragging its feet in completing a report that would help end the dispute.
Mr Musiambo said he had asked for a meeting between leaders of the Isiolo and Meru assemblies and the chairman of the National Land Commission. He cautioned that the meeting would not help if the report was not complete.
