Intrigues surrounding the ownership of Keroka market between Kisii and Nyamira could escalate after Governor James Ongwae and his Nyamira counterpart John Nyagarama differed publicly over the township.
The border town has been experiencing skirmishes for the better part of 2016 as residents from either side engage in running battles over the ownership.
Speaking during a live interview at Royal Media’s Egesa FM on Thursday, Nyagarama accused Kisii county leadership over forceful occupation and vowed to protect the territorial sovereignty of Nyamira.
“It’s wrong that we keep on talking about Keroka yet we had agreed on the way forward long ago. I am perturbed with the conduct of our counterparts from Kisii because they are determined to grab the town from us,” said Nyagarama.
“We’d agreed that Nyamira will collect revenue and consult Kisii during development but that’s not the case. They are constructing roads within the town without our consent and they have even decided to start collecting revenue to my disbelief,” he said.
However, Ongwae who made a telephone call defended his actions saying Nyamira was collecting taxes without tangible development in the border town.
“We allowed Nyamira to collect revenues for the last three years but they haven’t done anything tangible so far. We have to decide the way forward because I was equally getting pressure from Kisii residents who pay taxes in the market,” he said.
“Nyamira sent away my deputy (Joash Maangi) sometimes back when I wanted us iron the issue," said Ongwae.
"I have decided to commission the construction of roads and collection of garbage due to public demand since the Nyamira County is not ready to do the job,” he said.