MP faults governor over creation of new settlements in Ijara

Ijara Member of Parliament Abdi Ali Abdi has called for abolition of colonial three-mile rule, saying it was hurting his constituents.

Speaking in Abalatiro, the lawmaker accused Tana River Senator Danson Mungana and the Governor Godhana Dhadho of allegedly taking advantage of the colonial laws to create new settlements in his constituency.

Abdi warned that the move might spark inter-ethnic skirmishes among neighbouring communities that have co-existed for decades.

“Its unfortunate that leaders from Tana River are using colonial three mile rule to start new settlements in areas within Ijara. This move that needs stakeholder engagement from both counties can ignite conflict,” he said.

He claimed that Governor Dhadho has been distributing iron sheets, nails and paying for labour for people to settle in areas within his constituency particularly in Abalatiro without any proper procedure.

Abdi asked the governor and the Tana River leadership to refrain from actions that might create animosity saying the Garissa County leadership would not accept what he termed as illegal activities.

The MP argued that the three mile rule was a bad law that was inserted in the Districts and Provinces Act, and it is high it was abolished. 

Provisions in the Act state that a line running parallel to and 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) from the river on Garissa side falls in Tana River county.

Abdi claimed that the law was aimed at preventing Garissa residents from excessing and using the river - a natural resource - that should be shared amongst communities.

Last week, Masalani MCA Yunis Abdi called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigation to probe the Tana River county boss over the "illegal" settlement exercise. 

He claimed that Dhadho is pushing to have development programmes in areas that are within Ijara, to advance his expansionist agenda.