In a startling turn of events, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has found himself at odds with his Nairobi counterpart, Johnson Sakaja, following the latter’s unannounced visit to Murang’a County. What exactly transpired to spark this heated dispute, you may wonder?
Sakaja made headlines last Wednesday when he set up camp at the picturesque Ndakaini Dam in Murang’a. His mission? To assess the state of this vital water source. But that wasn’t all; he embarked on a tour extending beyond county lines and visiting dams in Kiambu and Nyandarua counties. On his Twitter feed, Sakaja proudly proclaimed, “Spent the day inspecting our water sources and treatment plants at Ndakaini Dam in Murang’a, Ngethu Water Treatment Plant in Kiambu, and Sasumua Dam in Nyandarua together with our water company leadership, Nairobi Water MD, technical team, Water CEC, and Chief Officer.”
It was this very tweet that set the stage for Kang’ata’s outburst. The Murang’a Governor couldn’t contain his astonishment, and he promptly shared a screenshot of Sakaja’s announcement on his own Twitter page, adding a perplexed comment. Given that Ndakaini Dam is nestled within the confines of Murang’a County, Kang’ata had every reason to believe that he would be involved in, if not notified about, this visit.
Kang’ata’s response hints at a distinct sense of unpreparedness for Sakaja’s tour, and he views it as nothing short of an encroachment upon his territorial jurisdiction. He brazenly tweeted, “Serious trespass. Wanted, ‘Dead or alive’.” The gravity of his words echoes the magnitude of his displeasure, and his accompanying screenshot of Governor Sakaja’s tweet is a testament to his frustration.
The Ndakaini Dam has not been a stranger to controversy in the past. There was a protracted tussle between Nairobi County and Murang’a County over its ownership. Eventually, the matter was resolved, with Nairobi County emerging as the rightful owner of the dam. This historical context sheds light on why Sakaja felt at ease making an unannounced visit to the dam without seeking Kang’ata’s permission.
It’s important to note that the workers at Ndakaini Dam are employees of Nairobi County, which further explains why Sakaja might not have deemed it necessary to inform Kang’ata of his visit. This intricately woven web of jurisdictional issues and historical disputes appears to be at the core of the clash between these two influential figures.
As the dust settles on this unexpected feud, one can’t help but wonder if this incident will catalyze a renewed dialogue between the counties involved. One thing is sure: the visit by Governor Sakaja has unearthed deep-seated tensions that will require careful negotiation and diplomacy to resolve. In the meantime, the people of Murang’a and Nairobi will watch closely, hoping for a swift and peaceful resolution to this territorial dispute.
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