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Leaders Clash Over Headquarters of Kisii Centres
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- Published on Monday, 16 July 2007 23:23
About 30 civic leaders resigned to protest against the posting of a District Commissioner to Kenyanya divisional headquarters. The bone of contention was, which between Ogembo and Kenyenya, was the suitable headquarter for the new district.
A similar situation now faces the new districts, Masaba and South Kisii, to be hived off Nyamira/Kisii and Gucha/Kisii districts.There is a row over the location of the headquarters for South Kisii. The disagreement is on whether the headquarters should be at Borabu or Keroka.
Masaba and South Kisii were created just before the referendum on November 21. It was one of the goodies dished by State House to those who campaigned for the 'Yes' camp in the referendum.
The team to State House was led by Roads minister Simeon Nyachae, who convinced President Kibaki that Kisii, with a population of about three million, deserved more districts.The excitement has cooled down and a problem has emerged regarding the new districts.
Leaders in Nyamira want Masaba, comprising North Mugirango Borabu, Kitutu Masaba and Nyaribari Masaba, to be headquartered at Borabu in Nyansiongo.Those from Nyaribari Masaba and Kitutu Masaba had earlier proposed that Keroka be made the headquarters. MPs Hezron Manduku and Mwancha Okioma represent these constituencies. Last week a group of leaders from Nyamira District, who spoke at Ensakia Primary School, said the headquarters for Masaba be at Borabu "or the district be shelved".
The leaders, among them Nairobi businessman Patrick Osero, Nyansiongo Town Council chairman Moriasi Ndubi and councillors Zebedeo Ombwori, Ken Riogi and Dennis Rosana said they would resist attempts to have the district headquarters built elsewhere.
"Nyansiongo is more developed and that is why we are suggesting that the district headquarters be based there. Any attempts to take the headquarters elsewhere will be resisted," said Ndubi.But Manduku says talk on the district's headquarters is closed.
"The government has chosen Keroka," Manduku told 'The Sunday Standard'.He added: "DCs have been instructed to make the necessary arrangements before a DC is posted to Keroka."He added: "Kisiis should not wrangle over everything, including a district headquarters. We should accept its creation and move on."
South Kisii District will incorporate South Mugirango and Bonchari constituencies.President Kibaki proposed Suneka to be the headquarters, but after consultation Tabaka in South Mugirango was picked. But Bonchari residents are hesitant about the changes.
"We want to remain in Kisii, which is closer to us than moving to Tabaka," the residents said.James Omingo Magara and Zebedeo Opore have called for dialogue before a DC is posted."Even if I were not in the delegation that visited State House, I am ready to meet with 'Yes' supporters to discuss the matter. I won't agree to be sidelined," Magara said. Former Cabinet minister Prof Sam Ongeri concurs.
"The districts are meant to benefit all. No political class should exclude others in discussing such an explosive matter. We might be rivals, but that doesn't mean we are not leaders," Ongeri said.
Ongeri wants the provincial administration to call a meeting to discuss the matter."They are sidelining others yet we will be asked to raise funds for the new district headquarters," he said.
DCs Abdilahi Leloon (Kisii), Samuel Rotich (Gucha) and Samuel Njora (Nyamira) say the matter is sensitive and asked Nyachae to resolve the standoff.In 1995, there was uproar when Mr Wilson Letole was posted to Kenyenya as the new DC. He and other departmental heads were withdrawn after seven months.
The government postponed the building of the headquarters and instructed then Cabinet ministers Nyachae and the late Zachary Onyonka to resolve the conflict.
