Uproar as senators push for probe into counties’ boundary row

Maseno township was given a status of a town in September 2020 by Kisumu Governor Anyang' Ny'ong'o. [File, Standard]

A petition to have the Senate resolve boundary disputes in various counties caused an uproar in the House.

Senators yesterday called for the establishment of an independent commission to oversee delimitation even as they disagreed on the location of Maseno township. 

“This is the time to think outside the box. Mr Speaker, get an ad hoc committee, let's sit down and bring all those land petitions so that everyone can get justice,” said Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina.

Things, however, took a bitter turn as a debate ensued over the location of Maseno township, which borders Vihiga and Kisumu counties.

Common denominator

”In the boundary problems around Kisumu in Kisumu County seem to be the common denominator,” Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula said.

Some of the lawmakers, however, were against involving Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o in addressing boundary disputes.

But nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga cautioned against attacking Nyong'o, maintaining that Maseno township was in Kisumu.

Wetang'ula claimed she was trying to "defend the indefensible", noting Nyong'o was guilty as he had already bestowed municipality status on Maseno town that included a section of Vihiga County.

“Under the standing orders, if she (Nyamunga) asserts Maseno is in Kisumu, she must substantiate using the law that it is, indeed, in Kisumu, not that she went to study around there," said Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

Nominated Senator Shiyonga Masitsa claimed the name Maseno had a Luhya origin