Ichuni MCA Lawrence Aburi has challenged the leadership of Nyamira and Kisii to consider constituting an independent team of elders comprising Keroka town natives to help solve the border row that has escalated in the recent weeks.
Both counties (Nyamira and Kisii) have expressed interests in controlling the town, with the rivalry leading to animosity between revenue collectors from both sides who have in past engaged in running battles.
On Monday, Mr Aburi who has been accused in the past by Nyamira County delegation of igniting tensions between the two sides called for selection of a 20-man team comprising elders and professionals from the Ministry of Lands to solve the simmering stalemate.
“The issue of boundary dispute should not take the political angle at all. I am now appealing to the leadership of both sides to constitute a team of elders who were born in Keroka to iron out the issues. They should be guided by a team of surveyors for the purpose of professionalism of the exercise,” he said.
Mr Aburi said the team if constituted should be allowed work independently without manipulation from either side and promised to persuade the political elites to respect any decision that may be made.
“The team should be allowed to work without any political manipulation so it’s important that they come up with well detailed information about the boundary which as politicians should adhere to. We want the matter solved expeditiously to bring harmony among us,” he said.
He promised to table a motion in Kisii County Assembly to authenticate his stand on the matter and urged his Nyamira counterparts to emulate his position on the matter.
“I am a resident of Keroka for all these years and I know elders will do a good job if allowed to work independently. I will table the motion of selecting elders to oversee the matter in the assembly and hope my colleagues from Nyamira will do the same,” he said.