Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-04 14:20:37
Rigoma Member of County Assembly (MCA) Nyambega Gisesa has taken legal action by filing a petition at the Environment and Lands Court of Kenya in Nyamira. The petition is aimed at having Kisii Governor Simba Arati and the acting County Secretary, Robert Ombasa, arrested for contempt of court.
In the court documents reviewed by Kenyans.co.ke on Monday, March 4, Gisesa requested that both officials be arrested and jailed for defying a court ruling made on February 15, 2024. The ruling stated that Keroka Town falls within Nyamira County’s jurisdiction, prohibiting Kisii County officers from collecting revenue in the area.
Despite the clear court order, Gisesa claimed that the officials from Kisii County continued to collect revenue in the disputed area. The MCA emphasized the importance of each county respecting its territorial boundaries as mandated by the court.
On February 22, the Kisii County officials allegedly disregarded the court’s directive and persisted in collecting revenue from traders in Keroka Town. Additionally, on March 1, Governor Arati distributed umbrellas branded with the Kisii County logo in the contested area, further disregarding the court ruling.
The actions of Governor Arati were seen as an attempt to assert Kisii County’s authority over the disputed territory. Enforcement officers were also redeployed to the area belonging to Nyamira County, causing tension and disrupting business activities in Keroka Town.
Subsequently, the atmosphere in the town became volatile as traders found themselves subject to double taxation from both counties. One trader recounted being harassed and forced to pay market cess to officials from both Kisii and Nyamira counties on the same day.
The situation escalated on March 3, 2024, when enforcement officers from Kisii County purportedly occupied the disputed area, barring Nyamira officials from collecting revenue. This led to a clash between the two county administrations, affecting the peace and stability of the town.
Gisesa’s petition seeks to hold Governor Arati and the acting County Secretary accountable for their actions, as they appear to have violated a court ruling and disrupted the normal operations of both counties in the disputed territory. The MCA is adamant that the rule of law must be upheld, and the territorial boundaries respected to avoid further conflicts and inconvenience to the residents and traders in Keroka Town.
The legal battle between Nyamira and Kisii counties over the jurisdiction of Keroka Town highlights the complexities of local governance and the importance of adhering to court rulings and territorial boundaries to maintain peace and order in the region. It remains to be seen how the court will respond to Gisesa’s petition and what actions will be taken to address the contentious issue.
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