Tharaka Nithi County: Daggers drawn as park ownership row deepens

By PEACELOISE MBAE

Tharaka Nithi County,Kenya: A row over the Meru National Park appears to be headed to the Supreme Court as two counties claim ownership.

Meru is pitted against Tharaka Nithi in a battle to determine who the real owner of the park is. The national park is one of the leading conservancy in Kenya and it rakes in millions of shillings in revenue every year.

While Meru County insists the park is squarely within its jurisdiction, the leaders in Tharaka Nithi are spoiling for a fight saying the matter can only be determined by the highest court in the land.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Samuel Mbae Ragwa has said he will go to court over the ownership of park.

Speaking to The Standard, Mr Ragwa said the park, specifically the Ura Gate, falls under his jurisdiction.

The governor claimed that from historical records, part of the park belonged to the county and he would not allow Meru County to continue enjoying its benefits alone.

“Meru County is no longer the big brother. We are going to claim

what is ours. We are planning on taking this matter to court and if necessary, the Supreme Court,” Ragwa said.

In a quick rejoinder, Meru County government dismissed the claim saying the park was squarely within its jurisdiction.

The County Executive in Charge of Tourism Ntoitha M’Mithiaru expressed concerns at the turn of events saying the issue has never cropped up before.

“We are surprised by these sentiments attributed to the Tharaka Nithi County government since the issue is not negotiable. From all the records, the Park is within Meru County,” Mr M’Mithiaru, a former MP said.

He added: “We should develop the culture of good relationship since we are neighbours. Why cant the leaders consult instead of issuing such inflammatory statements?”

M’Mithiaru said there was no dispute to warrant court action saying the Ura Gate cannot make Tharaka Nithi claim ownership of the park.

“You cannot make a claim on something massive as that just because of a gate. So can we claim Embu County because we pass through it?” he posed.

In laying the claim however, Ragwa said part of the historical injustices done in the county was taking part of the land and putting it under other areas.

He claimed the land bordering Meru County in Tharaka North needs to be returned to the rightful owners.

“We are going to hire very good lawyers to ensure no one takes even an inch of our land,” Ragwa said.

The governor said politics was not the way to solve land issues

in the area neither is Njuri Ncheke, the respected clan of elders from the area.

“Meru and Isiolo can resolve their land issues through the Njuri

Ncheke but we are not using that strategy for this one reason; some of

these Njuri Ncheke members own part of the land in question,” Ragwa said.

He said his government had chosen the court route ‘for the sake of neutrality and peace since the border people from the two counties have been experiencing conflict for years.