Boundary row re-ignites battle over location of Kapedo Town

Kapedo waterfalls along the border of Baringo and Turkana county. [Kipsang Joseph,Standard] The debate over the location of Kapedo is back, with the matter now before the Environment and Land Court in Kabarnet.This follows the planned establishment of new administrative units. On November 22, 2024, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi gazetted the creation of 578 administrative units. These comprised 27 sub-counties, 59 divisions, 170 locations, and 322 sub-locations. Tiaty MP William Kamket, through lawyer Kipkoech Ng'etich, filed a petition seeking the revocation of the notice establishing the new administrative boundaries. MCAs Lourien Limo Sam (Tirioko), Clement Lomaring'oria (Silale), and Daniel Tuwit (Ribkwo) have been enjoined as interested parties in the case. The leaders note that, through the gazette notice, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination established new administrative units as service delivery coordination units, including Suguta sub-County, with its headquarters in Kapedo Town. They stated that the gazette notice seeks to resolve the boundary dispute by relocating polling stations within Tirioko, Silale, and Ripkwo wards in Tiaty Constituency to Turkana East Constituency. "There are also established polling stations, including Kapedo Primary School, Kapau Primary School, Akoret, Kongor, and Chesawach Primary School," the leaders stated. The polling stations within Silale Ward include Natan Primary, Toplen Primary, Pklaghit Primary, Acham, Sitot, Akiriamet, and Cheparwas. They argued that the mandate of altering the boundaries of Tirioko, Silale, and Ripkwo wards in Tiaty Constituency is reserved for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and not the Interior Cabinet Secretary. They also revealed that a boundary dispute exists between the Baringo (Tiaty) and Turkana communities living along the Kapedo-Baringo and Turkana county boundaries, with each community and county presenting different maps to justify their territorial claims. "To resolve the boundary wrangles and put the controversy to rest, Parliament debated the issue in 2015. However, the recommendations failed to provide a lasting solution. One question remains: where exactly is Kapedo Town located, and does it lie in Baringo or Turkana?" they stated in the petition. They warned that altering the boundaries to make Kapedo the headquarters and relocating polling stations within Tirioko, Silale, and Ripkwo wards to Turkana East Constituency would only incite violence, which has already caused thousands of families to lose their loved ones over the years. They further noted that 10,000 residents of Tirioko, Ripkwo, and Silale wards would be significantly affected by the disputed gazette notice, yet they were never consulted. In response, the Interior CS asserted that he has the authority to establish administrative units to enhance service delivery. Kapedo, in itself, is a charming village surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Nestled between two rivers - Suguta, originating from the east, and Kapedo, flowing from the west - the village appears deceptively calm, almost inviting. To the east stands Mount Silale, while to the west lie the Tiaty Hills, completing the picturesque landscape. Agricultural activity in Kapedo is minimal, with residents primarily relying on livestock keeping. However, cattle rustling and conflict have made herding a perilous undertaking. Locals claim that cattle keeping is a matter of life and death. It was due to this region's beauty that, in the 1960s, missionaries from the Finnish Free Foreign Mission decided to settle there. While banditry has stifled development in the area, the boundary dispute has remained a central issue for over a decade. In February 2015, the Senate Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations toured the region on a fact-finding mission to understand the root causes of the perennial conflict. During their visit, they witnessed deep-seated divisions between the warring communities. During one meeting, leaders from the two communities refused to sit together, forcing the senators to hold separate sessions after tensions escalated into chaos. The committee, led by then-chairperson Yusuf Haji, had to address the communities separately. Leaders from Baringo County insisted that the disputed area falls within their jurisdiction. However, their Turkana counterparts, including then-Governor Josphat Nanok, argued otherwise. In 2008, during a heated debate in Parliament regarding boundary issues, then-Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro (now Senate Speaker) sought a statement from the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and National Security on the exact location of Kapedo.

Boundary row re-ignites battle over location of Kapedo Town

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