Kisii Governor Faces Jail Time Over Territory Dispute
Kisii Governor Simba Arati Faces Jail Time Over Territory Dispute
Kisii Governor Simba Arati Faces Jail Time Over Territory Dispute
The Environment and Lands Court of Kenya in Nyamira has received a petition from Member of County Assembly (MCA) Nyambega Gisesa, asking for the arrest of Kisii Governor Simba Arati on charges of contempt of court.
Gisesa also requested the arrest of Robert Ombasa, the interim county secretary and head of public service for the Kisii County Government, for the same reasons in court records viewed on Monday, March 4.
The two disregarded a ruling dated February 15, 2024, which said that Keroka Town was part of Nyamira County and prohibited Kisii County officials from collecting taxes there, according to the MCA.
“Despite the court delivering a judgement on February 15 2024, compelling each county to operate within its territories, the officers of Kisii County Government continue collecting the revenue along the area belonging to Nyamira County at Keroka Town,” Gisesa said.
The Kisii County Government was directed by the verdict to cease collecting taxes from the municipality and to make sure that the county officials stayed in their designated regions.
Gisesa added that on March 1, the Governor issued umbrellas branded ‘Governor Kisii County Simba Arati’ in Keroka Town. This was another violation of the ruling made.
“The actions of the Governor Paul Simba Arati were interpreted to mean that he was still claiming that the aforementioned area was within Kisii County territory as later he redeployed the Kisii County Government enforcement officers to the area belonging to Nyamira County,” the MCA added.
Additionally, it is said that Arati redeployed enforcement personnel in Keroka Town on Sunday, March 3, after they allegedly disrupted commerce and prevented Nyamira County officials from collecting revenue.
Concurrently, a dealer in the disputed town claimed that he and other individuals were charged twice by both counties. The shoe salesman expressed his horror at witnessing officials collecting market cess in defiance of the court order.
After he supposedly gave Ksh50 to Kisii County officials after being hounded, he was subsequently made to give Nyamira officials the same sum of money.
“On March 3 2024, the peace in the town was disrupted, when the enforcement officers from Kisii County came and occupied the disputed area, locking out the Revenue collection officers from Nyamira County,” the seller explained.
