Kwale County wins territorial dispute: Mackinnon Road confirmed as part of Kwale

After an 11-year dispute over territorial boundaries, the conflict between Kwale and Taita Taveta will come to an end after the National Land Commission (NLC) submitted a report confirming that Mackinnon Road Township falls under Kwale jurisdiction.

The National Land Commission filed a report last week in a Mombasa court that is to be adopted by the disputing counties.

The commission used the Boundary Act of 1992 to establish the facts.

Kwale had argued that its boundary with Taita Taveta is at Miasenyi, a few kilometres from Mackinnon Road town while Taita Taveta insists its boundary extends to Landi Ya Mwembeni near Taru town.

The town is along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway with a population of about 3,000 people.

While the court was working towards solving the dispute, they prohibited the Kwale County Government from collecting revenue from Mackinnon Road Township and made Taita Taveta the sole authority to issue business permits and to levy county taxes in Mackinnon Road towns.

But after the determination, Mackinnon Road residents will now have to pay taxes to the Kwale County government.

Earlier in June, NLC undertook a fact-finding mission with stakeholders from both counties, revisiting colonial administrative boundaries that will help determine the case.

The NLC officials had told the media that the High Court in Nairobi had directed them to investigate historical land injustices, gather enough evidence, and file a report.

They met with the community and representatives from Kwale and Taita Taveta and visited boundary beacons, key administrative infrastructures and historical features.

Addressing the media after the visit, Chairperson Gershom Otachi said the aim was to get a glimpse of the situation, understand the land topography and identify aspects of injustice.

"We have listened to both parties and toured the disputed areas together with surveyors, as requested by the court. After this, we will prepare a report that will help with the ruling," he had said.

The chairperson clarified that the visit was not to gather new information but to confirm facts previously provided by the counties and witnesses.

Otachi assured the community that the report would be completed in a week and would be presented to the court within a month.

Meanwhile, he had asked the locals to remain calm and avoid causing tension.

"We are working to ensure we solve the case as soon as possible. Before that happens, let us live in peace and avoid violence," he said.