Kenya Roads Board chairperson Aisha Jumwa has joined Tana River County leaders in opposing the proposed plan to extend the boundary of Garissa County into the territory of Tana River County.

Jumwa who was the guest of honour during a thanksgiving ceremony of former Tana River Woman Representative and Kengen Director Rehema Hassan at Mikinduni Village in Hola, said the Tana River residents and leaders must safeguard their boundary and not allow anyone to extend it.

The former Gender cabinet secretary said the boundaries were known from both sides and it wouldn’t be fair for the communities in Tana River to be pushed by the neighbouring counties in their homeland.

During the meeting, Hassan wondered why some leaders from Garissa wanted to raise conflict over the boundary that was set during the precolonial era and was known.

The Kengen director also criticised cabinet secretaries for trying to mislead President William Ruto in the land dispute issue, terming it a wrongmove.

Hassan however assured residents that the boundary of Garissa and Tana River would not be changed as successive regimes from Moi to Kenyatta never did so.

Galole MP Said Hiribae who was also present criticised Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen for undermining the leadership of Tana River County and disrespecting them by imposing directives to the Tana River residents without engaging local leadership.

He said as leaders of Tana River, they were united and wouldn’t allow an inch of Tana River County to be taken by Garissa County.

Meanwhile, Council elders from the Pokomo, Watta and Mnyoyaya communities who are within the borderline also declared they would not allow the boundary to be pushed to the river.

King of Munyoyaya Community Mahmud Wario, Watta Council of Elders Chairman Shomo Ashako and Mohamed Bere the Pokomo Council of Elders Chairman in Tana River publicly said they would not allow even an inch of Tana River County to be taken away by Garissa County.