Meru Governor Peter Munya calls for end to Meru-Isiolo border row

Meru County Governor Peter Munya unveils a plaque to mark the commissioning of a 225,000-litre rain water harvesting unit at Antubetwe Kiongo in Igembe North on November 15, 2014. Mr Munya called Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku to hasten the formation of a task force to address the boundary dispute between Meru and Isiolo counties. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Munya also ordered pastoralist communities grazing their animals in farms belonging to locals to vacate immediately or face unspecified stern action.
  • He wondered why Mr Lenku and the National Government were delaying in resolving the border dispute.
  • He also said that the process of setting up the boundaries should embrace new technology and that no undesirable cases should emanate out of it.
  • Mr Munya said it was unfortunate unknown people were invading farms belonging to locals as if they were not in use.

Meru Governor Peter Munya has called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku to hasten the formation of a task force to address a boundary row between his county and Isilo County.

Mr Munya also ordered pastoralist communities grazing their animals on farms belonging to locals to vacate immediately or face unspecified stern action.

Speaking in Igembe North Sub-County on Friday, Mr Munya said the boundary row was creating animosity among residents of two counties.

He wondered why Mr Lenku and the national government were delaying in resolving the border dispute whereas there are existing boundaries and maps that could be accessed easily.

“We met with Mr Lenku the other day and we agreed that he will be forming a task force within a period of two weeks which would clearly set out the boundaries between Isiolo and Meru County.

“We are urging the CS to do this immediately to end the existing dispute between us and Isiolo County which is an impediment to development,” he said.

EMBRACE NEW TECHNOLOGY

He also said that the process of setting up the boundaries should embrace new technology and that no undesirable cases should emanate out of it.

At the same time, the governor revisited the issue of establishing a conservancy in the northern end of Meru County, saying such a move would prevent herders from intruding into Meru County.

He regretted that some politicians were opposed to the conservancy for their own selfish interests.

Mr Munya said it was unfortunate unknown people were invading farms belonging to locals as if they were not in use.

He reiterated that farmers struggled to acquire seedlings to plant and that it was wrong for pastoralists to graze animals on their crops.

He accused a community from the neighbouring Isiolo County of being notorious in grazing their animals on local farmers’ crops as a result of the boundary dispute between the two counties.