CS Kindiki meets county bosses over border row

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki yesterday held a consultative meeting with Taita-Taveta leadership on the issues affecting the residents.

The meeting held at the CS offices in Nairobi centered on the long-standing boundary dispute involving the county and its neighbouring Makueni and Kwale counties, stalled infrastructural mega projects geared towards transforming the lives of the community, persistent human-wildlife conflict, including food and water insecurity.

Governor Andrew Mwadime and County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara led the delegation which consisted of Senator Jones Mwaruma and Woman Representative Lydia Haika. Others included MPs Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi), John Bwire (Taveta), and Abdi Chome (Voi).

The meeting comes in the backdrop of a fresh boundary controversy that has erupted between Taita-Taveta and Makueni counties over Mtito-Andei town along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Recently, tension ran high after some youths allegedly from Makueni, disrupted a public participation exercise organised by the county government forcing senior officials to flee.

Mtito Andei and Mackinnon Road townships have been at the centre of conflict between Taita-Taveta and its neighbours over competing resources with both claiming ownership.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr said recently the boundary between his county and Taita-Taveta is at Man Eaters while Taita-Taveta county said the actual boundary is at Mtito Andei river.

Mutula Jr is alleged to have vowed not to allow even an inch of his county land to be taken over by Taita-Taveta County.

In Mackinnon, Taita-Taveta declared the boundary with its neighbouring Kwale is at Land Ya Mwembeni.