Garissa and Lamu leaders clash over annexation of Dar es Salaam Point

Leaders from Lamu and Garissa remain at odds over ownership of Dar es Salaam Point, located along the Kenya-Somalia border.

The contested area, which includes Ishakani, encompasses both land and a stretch of shoreline, adding to the complexity of the dispute.

Garissa County residents and politicians, led by Ijara MP Abdi Ali, assert that Dar es Salaam Point belongs to them, urging Lamu locals to stay away from the area.

Meanwhile, Lamu elders and leaders are resolute, demanding that their Garissa counterparts stop laying claim to what they insist is Lamu's rightful territory.

They argue that historical maps clearly show Dar es Salaam Point and Ishakani as part of Lamu County.

Lamu nominated senator Shakila Abdalla, on Thursday, September 12, 2024, voiced her opposition to the annexation of Dar es Salaam Point to Garissa County. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

The move has brought confusion between the two sides, both of which have vowed not to relent.

Ijara MP Abdi Ali vehemently stated that the disputed Dar es Salaam Point belongs to Garissa and is within his Ijara Constituency.

He advised those who had doubts about the matter to delve into history, obtain administrative maps, and arm themselves with knowledge about the subject.

"I want to make it clear that Dar es Salaam Point is in Garissa and within my Ijara Constituency. We respect the Lamu people. They're our neighbours, but they should stop claiming ownership of this border point since it belongs to Garissa County," said Ali.

On her side, Lamu-nominated Senator Shakila Abdalla voiced her opposition to the annexation of Dar es Salaam Point to Garissa.

In a letter to the Prime Cabinet Secretary, who also oversees the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket, Senator Shakila voiced concern over recent statements by leaders from Ijara Constituency in Garissa County regarding the annexation of Dar es Salaam Point in Ishakani, a territory she insists historically and legally belongs to Lamu County.

Firmly opposing the annexation claims, Shakila urged Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to take swift action to preserve Lamu's boundaries and uphold its territorial integrity.

Foreign and Diaspora Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, delivers a public lecture at the USIU-A in Nairobi on March 22, 2024. (Photo: X/USIU-Africa)

She laid out five key reasons against the annexation, warning that it could undermine Lamu's historical and legal claims, lead to the loss of strategic and economic benefits for its residents, violate local rights and interests, escalate regional tensions, and threaten national unity.

Shakila also pointed to colonial and historical maps, along with long-standing administrative records, which place Dar es Salaam Point within Lamu County's jurisdiction.

"Dar es Salaam Point also holds considerable strategic and economic value for Lamu County," stated Shakila.

The senator further called on Mudavadi to take immediate and decisive action to prevent what she described as the unlawful annexation of the disputed area by Garissa County leaders.

As the CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Mudavadi holds a crucial role in upholding national integrity, safeguarding local interests, and ensuring the government operates with transparency and fairness, according to Shakila.

"I, therefore, request that you engage all relevant stakeholders to resolve this matter and assure the residents of Lamu County that their rights and resources will be safeguarded," said Shakila.