Residents urge state to intervene in Kilifi, Mombasa boundary row

Residents want Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro to intervene and end encroachment of Buni Kisimani village by Mombasa county. [File, Standard]

Residents of Buni Kisimani village in Rabai sub-county, Kilifi, have issued a 30-day ultimatum to the government to resolve a boundary dispute between Kilifi and Mombasa counties.

Led by John Jana and Ms Radhia Luvuno, the residents claimed that the Mombasa county government had extended its boundary hence eating into Buni Kisimani village and disrupting service delivery.

They called on President William Ruto and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro to intervene and save the village from alleged encroachment by Mombasa county.

Luvuno said that accessing government services in the village was now a headache to many and land grabbers had taken advantage of the situation to allocate themselves private land.

"This is our cry and not politics because Mombasa people have come to erect beacons on our land," she said.

Bimbita Baniani, a resident, said that the encroachment of Mombasa county into Kilifi territory had hampered service delivery as development projects such as tarmacking of roads in the area has stalled.

"We know the boundaries where there is the 'welcome to Mombasa' sign but now they have invaded our land," he protested.

Kennedy Konde, a representative of Rabai MP Kenga Mupe, said that the matter will be taken to the Ministry of Interior for deliberations.

"These things are happening when we have the Kilifi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands Ms Jane Kamto who hails from this village," Konde said.

The residents want the Kilifi and Mombasa leadership to come up with a solution to end the rising tension.

The area borders Jomvu constituency in Mombasa county and Rabai constituency in Kilifi county.

The boundary row has raised concern since the disputed area has an ocean creek hence residents feel that their livelihood will be affected.