Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga faces probe over Maseno boundary row
NCIC commissioners Prof Gitile Naituli (left) and Adan Mohamed (right) with Kisumu County Governor Jack Ranguma during their fact finding mission over claims by Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga that Maseno Township is in his county and not in Kisumu. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- NCIC officials Wednesday met Vihiga and Kisumu county leaders to address the matter.
- Mr Akaranga recently said the town, which hosts Maseno University, Maseno School and a mission hospital, is in Vihiga County.
- Prof Naituli Wednesday said the remarks by Mr Akaranga could incite conflict between the Luhya and Luo communities.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is investigating Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga over his recent utterances on the Maseno Township boundary.
NCIC officials Wednesday met Vihiga and Kisumu county leaders to address the matter.
While meeting Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, Commissioner Gitile Naituli criticised Mr Akaranga for discussing the matter on the wrong platform.
Mr Akaranga recently said the town, which hosts Maseno University, Maseno School and a mission hospital, is in Vihiga County.
The border town is currently administered by Kisumu County.
Kisumu leaders have accused the Vihiga governor of making inflammatory statements on the issue.
Prof Naituli Wednesday said the remarks by Mr Akaranga could incite conflict between the Luhya and Luo communities living in the area.
“The remarks could have led to bloodshed. You don’t go to people who can do nothing about such matters unless you want them to fight,” said Prof Naituli.
AKARANGA MAINTAINS STAND
However, when the cohesion team visited Vihiga, Mr Akaranga maintained that Maseno Township should be in his county.
“I still maintain my stand that (the) Maseno area should be in Vihiga County.
“These are the historical injustices that relevant bodies should resolve,” he said.
He said he was responding to concerns by residents of Maseno who claim that they have been marginalised by the Kisumu County leadership in allocation of bursaries.
The Maseno residents are also unhappy with the state of roads in the area, compared with those in neighbouring Vihiga County, where there has been massive upgrading of infrastructure.
“A delegation from Maseno has come to my office a number of times demanding that I push for a boundary review to have them back to Vihiga County,” said Mr Akaranga.
But Prof Naituli urged leaders not to use divisive ways in trying to resolve people’s problems.
“We will investigate this matter in line with the Penal Code and nothing can stop us from issuing sanctions when one party is guilty,” he said.
The cohesion team also spoke with MPs and county commissioners from both counties.
