Kwale leaders have called for the immediate transfer of the area county commissioner Michael Mwangi Meru and his Kilifi counterpart Josephat Biwot over a heated boundary dispute between the two counties.
The two are alleged to have declared some parts of Kwale County in Samburu to be in Kilifi without involving the county leadership.
Governor Fatuma Achani strongly condemned the act claiming the two have overstepped their mandate and violated the law.
Achani said it was rude and petty for the two administration officers to take matters of land disputes lightly and make decisions without recognizing the county leadership and legal process.
"The constitution is very clear that we are the custodian of the land and anything the county and the public must be involved. Who are they to make their own decision," she said.
However, Biwot denied all the allegations adding that he didn't declare anything but rushed to solve security matters.
He said two communities of Gede Mitangani from Kilifi and Duruma community had clashed over a grazing land.
Biwot said they went to calm down the situation and solved the boundary dispute because the two communities have been in dispute for the last two years.
He said with the help of the surveyors they went to review the boundary of both the communities and urged them to stay within their boundaries.
"We went there and followed the original map of 1961 that clearly showed the boundaries of the two communities. The surveyors identified the original boundaries and told them not to cross paths," he said.
Biwot said the issue was purely a security matter and that involving the politicians could have escalated the problem.
He said all they want is for the two communities to coexist peacefully.
He said if the leaders are not satisfied the two county commissioners will write to the land CS and respective authority for further interventions.
The dispute is affecting the Kanjaocha, Kanyumbuni, Baisa, Kaza Moyo, Bwaga and Maji ya Chumvi villages.
Achani said the sole responsibility for the boundary delimitation lies with IEBC.
She claimed the two officers are jeopardizing the Kenya Kwanza administration.
On his part, Meru said he cannot comment about the issue since it is already court.
"I have no comment. The issue is already in court. The people complaining have a freedom of speech. It is their constitutional right," he said.
Achani said the declaration that the mentioned areas are in Kilifi is endangering the county security because locals have become restless.
She said since independence the areas have been known to be in Kwale and residents receive services from the county government.
Achani said all residents have national identities and voter cards clearly indicating the disputed areas are in Kwale.
She said the areas are full of Kwale government infrastructure and development projects wondering what criteria the two administrators applied.
Achani said she contacted Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro over the same issue and was told he was not aware.
Achani said her administration won't entertain land injustices, intimidations and dictatorship.
"To them, I am a woman, not a leader, that's okay but I won't sit back and let land historical injustices thrive," she said.
