Clash over grazing land reignites Kilifi-Kwale boundary row

A clash over a grazing land has reignited border row between two communities from Kwale and Kilifi counties.

The clash saw Kwale county commissioner Mwangi Meru and his Kilifi counterpart Josephat Biwot dash to the disputed area resolve the impasse.

The dispute is between Gede Mitangani and Duruma communities.

The areas affected are Kanjaocha, Kanyumbuni, Baisa, Kaza Moyo, Bwaga and Maji ya Chumvi villages.

Meru and Biwot declared that the area is in Kilifi county.

The two administrators directed the warring communities to stay within their boundaries.

However, the declaration immediately evoked strong condemnation from Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, who demanded the transfer of the administrators.

She said the officials overstepped their mandate and violated the law.

Achani said it was rude and petty for the two administrators to make decisions on land matters without involving the county leadership.

"The constitution is very clear, we are the custodian of the land. If anything the county and the public must be involved. Who are they to make their own decision," she asked.

Biwot denied making any declarations saying he only rushed to solve security matters.

He said the two communities have had the boundary dispute for the last two years.

With the help of the surveyors, Biwot said they went to review the boundary and urged them to stay within their areas.

"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 urged the leaders who are not satisfied with their decision to write to the land CS for further interventions.

But that clash over grazing land has now snowballed into a full-blown dispute with leaders from both counties trading barbs and accusations.

Some Kilifi leaders have now warned Governor Achani against politicising the row.

The leaders said the row is a security threat that could spark deadly clashes. 

Last week some herders sustained deep cuts after a clash.

It occurred after some Kwale residents leased a section of the disputed land in Kilifi county to pastoralists from North Eastern.

The pastoralists however found that the land had already been leased to other pastoralists by residents from Kilifi county.

Mitangani location chief Stephen Thethe said they have witnessed several attacks between the communities living in the disputed area.

“On Tuesday Gede people were attacked and Wednesday there was an attempted attack that was thwarted by the residents," he said.

"As the National government officers from both Kwale and Kilifi counties, we went to the disputed area and declared that the area is in Kilifi county."

Thethe said the situation deteriorated after Achani visited the area.

“Kwale government has built classrooms and other infrastructure in the area and labelled them as their project. This has caused friction between the locals who have been living in harmony,” he said.

Thethe said Kwale has claimed ownership of half of the Gede sub-location.

He urged Kilifi governor Gideon Mung’aro to resolve the issue with Achani.

Kilifi county head of delivery Unit in the office of Governor Fikirini Jacobs said the governor will address the matter once he jets back into the country.

Jacobs described Achani’s remarks as disrespectful and not appreciative of devolution.

"When such a thing happens, it is only prudent that you cross to the other area and sit down with the leaders to find a solution not throwing barbs at leaders to the extent of calling for their transfer," he said.

"This is disrespectful and a deliberate lack of appreciation for devolution. We respect Kwale leaders but on this issue, we are telling them to please go slow. It is a potential danger zone.”

Former Bamba MCA Daniel Mangi said the two communities have lived in the disputed area peacefully.

He said political leaders should take responsibility should the clashes persist.

“Administrators from both counties did due diligence and visited the area with surveyors to establish the correct boundaries," Mangi said.

"The surveyors did their job and gave their verdict based on the maps. As a leader if you are not satisfied, the best thing is to follow the law and seek redress not inciting residents against each other,” he added.

Biwott said as security teams from both counties their first mandate was to quell clashes.

He said all they want is for the two communities to peacefully coexist.

Achani said the administrators erred by not involving the governors from the two counties in the boundary row.

However, Biwot said the issue was purely a security matter and that involving the politicians could have escalated the problem.

Since devolution, residents from Gede in Kilifi county have been crossing to Health facilities in Kwale County for services.