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{
    "id": 1276243,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1276243/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 304,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 185,
        "legal_name": "Danson Buya Mungatana",
        "slug": "danson-mungatana"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I was to make comments on the statement regarding boundaries that was read to us on behalf of Senator for Machakos, Sen. Kavindu Muthama. I seek to support this Statement because we have had a lot in terms of border disputes. It is not just the question of Machakos border. The boundaries disputes must be resolved. I am speaking with advice that there is a problem right now between the boundary of Kitui and Tana River counties. So, as the Committee looks at the issue of the boundaries of Machakos County, may they also advance their investigations to cover the disputes between Kitui and Tana River counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, the issue that has continued to disturb us is that the colonial districts were the ones that defined the boundaries as we know them. The boundary of Tana River was well-defined by the colonialists. However, what has been happening is that the boundary on the northern side in Bura Constituency has progressively been moving backwards, eating into the land of Tana River. This has caused a lot of tension. A few years ago, even schools were burnt down and a whole population moved away in favour of Kitui, with support of police, pushing whole populations of Tana River back into Tana River Land. Madam Temporary Speaker, as we speak, we have the Kenya National Examinations Centres (KNEC) administered from Tana River, but we are told administratively, those schools are in Kitui. You can have voting and polling stations that are voting in Tana River, but then they have an Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) who is in Kitui County. There is a lot of confusion in that border and much tension. The administration from both sides at the county levels have met, but this has not resolved the issues. In fact, the Regional Commissioners for North Eastern, Coast and Eastern have also met and held a meeting but still the matter has not been resolved. In the meantime, tension is building. I want the Committee to widen their investigation not to just talk about Machakos but to go ahead and look at the boundary dispute between Tana River and Kitui counties. People have died because of this conflict and right now, nothing has been determined. I urge the Committee to look into this because the boundary cannot be shifting to towards Bangal. It is very much interior into Tana River County yet Kitui has been pushing it. Madam Temporary Speaker, I believe one of the fundamental steps that must be taken is that the Director of Survey from Nairobi and not surveyors of Kitui or Tana River counties should come and determine the original colonial boundary before discussions are held. Leaving things the way they are and for wananchi to quarrel is not the way governments should operate. I thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker."
}