Machakos protests bid to transfer Konza to Makueni

Residents and political leaders in Machakos County have expressed frustrations over the State's attempt to transfer parts of Konza region annexed from County Government of Machakos to Makueni County.

Last week, a directive from the Ministry of Lands headquarters in Nairobi ordered for immediate transfer of lands records from the Machakos registry to Wote registry in Makueni, touching on Konza area whose location is disputed by the two(2) counties.

In a memo dated December 19, 2024, and which was addressed to the land management coordinators of Machakos and Makueni counties, Administration Secretary in the State Department of Lands and Physical Planning Mohammed Maalim decreed that all land records for the said region be moved to Wote land registry latest by December 30, 2024.

“Accordingly, the land management coordinator for Makueni is directed to acknowledge receipt of the aforementioned records and forward a copy to this office,” the memo, copied to the Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and seen by AVDelta News reads in part.

Consequently, the directive was not received well by authorities in Machakos, with the county executive and a section of local politicians flatly dismissing it as a blatant illegality and serious affront to the territorial integrity of the lower Eastern region’s richest county.

However, several official correspondences between the county leadership and the Lands CS insisted that Konza region was within Machakos territory.

Governor Wavinya Ndeti said they would not welcome any attempt to transfer contested region to Makueni County.

“Konza is located within Machakos and no one should attempt to move any of the land from our jurisdiction. I'm fully informed about the background and legal framework surrounding this issue including the Senate ruling on the matter,” Ms Ndeti told journalists.

Ms Ndeti also disclosed that her office had been in contact with CS Wahome through numerous letters regarding the matter.

“We've sent her several letters regarding the matter. The memo from her ministry has created tension and anxiety among the residents of Machakos, particularly in Kalama. It is clear that the Ministry of Lands did not conduct any public participation as the law requires, thus acting improperly out of self-interest rather than focusing on public interest,” the governor added.

She demanded that the Ministry of Lands stops this process immediately and instead involve all the stakeholders in a discussion to find a solution for the issue to avoid further problems.

Machakos County Executive for Lands Nathaniel Nganga said the ministry of Lands had overstepped its mandate.

“In December 2014, there was an inter-ministerial report to the Senate on the demarcation of Konza boundary by the Standing Committee on Lands and Natural resources clearly settling the matter,” Mr Nganga told journalists at a press conference in Machakos.

The Lands Executive pointed out that the the county government had written to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which is mandated to draw electoral boundaries as well as the Inter-Governmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) requesting the agencies to intervene over the matter.

“There has been several attempt to move Konza to Makueni and the Ministry of Lands appears to be the latest enabler following their ulterior actions through the recent directive,” he added.

Former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka added his voice on the matter, declaring the demarcation between Machakos and Makueni at Konza area was settled and is not open to further debate.

He claimed the latest move was politically motivated.

“What we are now witnessing is impunity of the highest order. The Government must move swiftly and do the right thing and prevent unnecessary animosity between the residents of the two(2) counties,” he added.