A section of leaders from Lagdera sub-county have called on Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i to immediately rescind the directives that all chiefs in Isiolo and Lagdera should be in their jurisdictions.
Two weeks ago, Matiang’i directed the regional commissioners for Eastern and North together with Isiolo and Garissa county commissioners to ensure that chiefs are in their jurisdictions.
The directive follows a meeting between leaders from Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir and Marsabit to address conflicts revolving around boundaries at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Nairobi.
Addressing the press after leading a peaceful demonstration through the streets of Modogashe town, the leaders who included council of elders, religious, women, professionals and youths said the directive was likely to escalate tension and lead to clashes between the two neighbouring communities.
In a terse statement read by Modogashe MCA Ali Abdullahi, the CS directive affects the sub-location and locations of Janju, Barkuke, Garse, Bullo, Eldere, Tokojo, Hadun and Kambi Samaki.
“The affected centres have existed for over 40 years and all through were administratively governed under the Garissa District,” read the statement.
“Eldere was gazzetted as administrative unit in 1991. Tokojo was gazzetted as administrative unit in 1995. That the directives preaches the identity of the aforementioned locations and its populace established 40 years ago. That the affected chiefs/Assistant Chiefs administrates 10 percent of the land mass of Lagdera Constituency,” the statement further read.
Abdullahi said the local population have developed their livelihoods over the years including families, business and children in school, noting that any attempt to delay further development in these centres is against the individual right to fend for a living,
His Galbet counterpart Abdirizack Ismail said the action to interfere with the administrative, cultural, socio economic and political identity “is partial, unfounded and intensive to our future wellbeing”.
“No precedence in this Country where a border dispute was resolved through demarcation and alteration in the history of Kenya by Interior Ministry through boardroom declarations since the amalgamation of the new Constitution. Many counties have more grave issues of boundary and hitherto remain unresolved until when a commission is going to be established according to the current constitution of Kenya 2010,”said Ismail.
They urged the government to put aside an independent party for a fact-finding mission through public participation to ascertain the real issues on the ground by giving consideration on other existing boundaries and historical facts.
Already two petitions – Hamdi Hassab has filed a case and Hassab Rage seeking to stop the government plan to relocate chiefs and assistant chiefs living in the disputed areas.
by Jacob Songok
