Ogongo commission report to help resolve Meru and Tharaka-Nithi border row

The Zachary Ogongo-led commission report will be used to resolve the boundary dispute between Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties, Land Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has said.

Speaking at the Tharaka-Nithi County headquarters in Kathwana on Wednesday when he issued 44,000 title deeds to the residents, the Prof Kaimenyi said the Ogongo report was comprehensive and reliable.

He said land adjudication along the border had been delayed due to the row.

He, however, said that the government was not mainly concerned with the county boundaries but individuals’ land.

"Our Constitution allows a Kenyan to live in any part of the country without minding their origin," said Prof Kaimenyi.

He also called for an end to land disputes amongst the residents to allow adjudication to go on.

"There are too many land cases in court hindering any progress in adjudication," he said.

He singled out Kanthanje, Kamwimbi and Kamwoka villages as the areas with many cases in court.

Tharaka-Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa reiterated the need to unite Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties by ensuring that there is a permanent solution to the boundary problem.

He also sought clarity on a map that was being circulated on social media showing that no part of Mt Kenya is in Tharaka-Nithi County.

About 70 per cent of Mt Kenya is currently in Meru County.

"We are not aware of the source of a map said to be showing no part of Mt Kenya is in Tharaka-Nithi County,” said Mr Ragwa.

CALL FOR QUICK RESOLUTION

Tharaka MP Mburi Muiru, who is also the Parliamentary Land Committee chairman, also called for an immediate solution to the Meru-Tharaka-Nithi boundary dispute.

He supported Prof Kaimenyi’s move to give title deeds to individuals without looking at where they came from.

"As much as we are concerned about the boundary, we seriously need title deeds along the border," said Mr Muiru.

Other leaders who attended the event included Chuka/Igambang’ombe MP Muthomi Njuki, Tharaka-Nithi Woman Rep Beatrice Nkatha and Deputy governor Mati Murithi.

The Ogongo team conducted investigations in 2007 and recommended for the formation of a joint adjudication team drawn from the two regions especially the old and informed people.

It also said that those displaced in Kindani, Kiamugumo and other areas following the 1997 clashes to be relocated.

The report is also said to have set a clear boundary between the two counties.

Tharaka-Nithi County leaders have since presented a petition to the National Assembly to speedily resolve the boundary row.

The petition states that in 1954, the colonial government drew a map showing the boundary between the current Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties but in 1966, another map was drawn which placed the Meru National Park and other areas in Meru.