Leaders urge caution over Tana River, Garissa boundary dispute

The proposed plan to alter the boundary between Garissa and Tana River counties could spark tribal clashes in the volatile region, leaders have warned.

On Sunday, former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa and Tana River leaders said the 1930 three-mile boundary strip between the two counties should be maintained.

Jumwa, who is the chair of the Kenya Roads Board, said the proposed plans to extend the boundaries of Garissa County into Tana River territory would lead to chaos.

She spoke at Mikinduni Primary School grounds in Hola town, Tana River County, during a thanksgiving ceremony for KenGen director, Rehema Hassan.

Jumwa cautioned leaders from the two counties against inciting each other over the boundary issue and urged President William Ruto to intervene.

“I have heard that some leaders from Garissa are invading Tana River boundaries, but I want to tell them that boundaries have been well known since they were drawn a long time ago. Every county has its own boundaries, and therefore invading other county’s boundaries should be treated as incitement,” she said.

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She added that residents of Tana River County should also safeguard what is constitutionally theirs.

“Trespassing into another territory is against the law. We should sensitise our people against such acts that could easily spark chaos. Leaders should not incite people,” she added.

Jumwa said that the boundaries were recognised by both sides and that it would not be fair for communities in Tana River to be pushed by neighbouring counties in their own homeland.

During the meeting, Hassan asked why some leaders from Garissa wanted to raise conflict over a boundary that was drawn during the pre-colonial era and is well known.

The KenGen director also criticised Cabinet Secretaries whom she said were trying to mislead President Ruto in the dispute issue, terming it a wrong move.

Hassan, however, assured residents that the boundary would not be changed, as successive regimes from Moi to Kenyatta never did so.

“I want to assure residents of Tana River County that no boundary will be re-drawn in favour of Garissa,” she said.

Leaders and residents of Garissa County want the boundary strip drawn when the former Northern Frontier District sought to join Somalia abolished.

They claim that colonial rule is outdated, discriminated against and marginalised Garissa residents, and has been the source of conflicts.

On April 28, the High Court in Garissa temporarily halted new settlement into the disputed area following a case filed by Ijara MP Abdi Ali Abdi.

Abdi accused the Tana River County leadership of unlawful encroachment into the area. The court stopped any activities on the three-mile strip until the case is determined.

The outcome of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for several inter-county boundary disputes across the country.

Galole MP Said Hiribae also criticised Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and his Lands counterpart Alice Wahome for undermining the leadership of Tana River County and disrespecting them by imposing directives on the Tana River residents without engaging local leadership. “We caution CSs Alice Wahome and Kipchumba Murkomen to desist from interfering with the Tana River County boundaries. They should be the ones protecting every Kenyan. Wahome should bring us land title deeds instead of interfering with our local affairs,” he said.

He affirmed that as leaders of Tana River, they were united and would not allow an inch of Tana River County to be taken by Garissa County.

Council elders from the Pokomo, Watta and Munyoyaya communities living along the borderline also declared they would not allow the boundary to be pushed to the river.

King of the Munyoyaya Community Mahmud Wario, Watta Council of Elders Chairman Shomo Ashako, and Mohamed Bere, the Pokomo Council of Elders Chairman in Tana River, stated that they would not allow even an inch of Tana River County to be taken by Garissa County.

“The boundaries between Tana River and Garissa counties were delineated in 1930 under international law, but we are shocked that the people of Garissa want to change boundaries and invade our territory. We will not allow that to happen as it amounts to incitement by leaders. They must respect the three mile rule, and the government should not be seen to fight Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana,” he said, adding that the River Tana consistently changes course and therefore cannot be used to mark the boundary.