We’ll go to court over county boundary rows, says Munya
What you need to know:
- “It is upon the boundaries commission to address these issues or the counties will move to court to seek an interpretation on the matter,” he said through his communication director Thuranira Thiaine.
- Currently, nearly half of the regional governments are involved in boundary disputes, with a number fuelled by the discovery of minerals and other resources.
- Contacted, IEBC chief executive Ezra Chiloba said the commission’s mandate was limited to delimination of constituency and ward boundaries.
Governors will go to court to seek redress on disputes over county boundaries if the electoral commission fails to resolve the matter.
Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya Wednesday said going to court would help reduce tensions in most counties.
This comes even as Kakamega Senator Bonni Khawlawe last week said he was preparing a Bill to be tabled before Senate to set up a tribunal to address the disputes.
Mr Munya, who is also the Meru governor, said the conflicts were due to lack of clear boundaries, which he said have not been reviewed over time.
“It is upon the boundaries commission to address these issues or the counties will move to court to seek an interpretation on the matter,” he said through his communication director Thuranira Thiaine.
The Intergovernmental Relations Act 2012 tasks the Council of Governors with resolving disputes among counties.
Mr Munya, whose county has been embroiled in a border dispute with Isiolo, said they would go to court if other avenues of resolving the disputes fail.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is tasked with the responsibility of marking and reviewing boundaries.
Article 188 of the Constitution gives the Senate and the National Assembly powers to recommend the setting up of a commission to resolve boundary conflicts.
NEARLY HALF
Currently, nearly half of the regional governments are involved in boundary disputes, with a number fuelled by the discovery of minerals and other resources.
The most affected counties are Kisumu, Vihiga, Isiolo, Meru, Kisii, Nyamira, Turkana and Pokot. Early this month, Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga revived the dispute over Maseno, with claims that it is in Kisumu County illegally.
Mr Akaranga told Nation that his county was losing millions of shillings in revenue to Kisumu, which he accused of grabbing Maseno from Vihiga.
“Kisumu County has been collecting revenue in Maseno and other trading centres in two locations, which are geographically in Vihiga,” he said.
Contacted, IEBC chief executive Ezra Chiloba said the commission’s mandate was limited to delimination of constituency and ward boundaries.
“We reckon that most of the disputes mentioned are related to county boundaries. Article 188 of the Constitution provides for the procedure of reviewing boundaries. That said, there is a need for an objective assessment of what the issues are and perhaps a multi-stakeholders process established,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Osman Warfa has accused Parliament and the IEBC of failing to stop conflicts over boundary disputes in the North Rift.
Mr Warfa Wednesday asked IEBC and Parliament to resolve boundary disputes among the Turkana, Pokot and Illchamus.
“It is pointless for the communities to continue fighting over boundary disagreement while there are right bodies that can handle the matter,” said Mr Warfa.
The Pokot and Turkana have been fighting over Lorogon in West Pokot and Turkana South, and Kapedo in Turkana East and East Baringo.
