Mungatana wants CS to revoke notice declaring Masalani protected area

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana addressing the media at Parliament on May 15, 2024 .[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to revoke a gazette notice declaring parts of Masalani a protected area under the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The gazette notice, dated May 16, designates land spanning Garissa and Tana River counties as restricted, allowing only access approved by the NIS Director General.

Mungatana accused the government of bypassing public consultation and ignoring local communities.

"Respect the public; you cannot deprive them of their rights. Currently, there is an ongoing demonstration in that area. We demand that you remove the gazette notice to serve justice to the public," said Mungatana.

The designated areas include the Masalani NIS Campus and surrounding regions in both Garissa and Tana River.

Mungatana questioned the motive behind the declaration, warning that the order's lack of precise boundaries may open the door to land grabbing.

"Explain why a vague order that fails to define the coordinates of the affected areas allows for potential land grabbing by the Cabinet Secretary on behalf of the National Intelligence Service," added Mungatana.

He noted that neither Tana River nor Garissa County governments were consulted, arguing that such a move disregards devolution and local governance.

The senator said he would pursue the matter in the Senate and seek legal action if the government fails to withdraw the notice.