Kitui County Government in conjunction with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) today held consultative meetings with residents of the banditry-prone Kitui-Tana River borderline ahead of the planned establishment of a military base at Ukasi in Nguni Ward, Mwingi Central Sub-County.
Led by Lands CEC Samson Masila and KDF’s Brigadier (Rtd) Foustine Sirera, the delegation held public participation forums at Ukasi and Mandongoi centers in Nguni and Ngomeni Wards respectively where wananchi unanimously welcomed the initiative terming it a viable solution to the protracted insecurity in the areas.
Mr Masila noted that through the collaboration, the county government will provide land while KDF will cater for construction of the military camp which will sit on a 10,000-acre piece of land at Mwanzele in Nguni ward.
“KDF will also set up two patrol bases at Mandongoi and Inyali in Mutha Ward, Kitui South Sub-County, each covering 2,500 acres of land,” said the CEC.
On his part, Brigadier (Rtd) Sirera affirmed KDF’s commitment to put to an end the deadly pasture-related clashes between residents of the two neighboring counties.
The senior KDF officer added that military personnel will conduct tactical operations along the affected areas even as they go about with their normal business thereby warding off the criminals who have in the past killed, maimed and displaced residents in an attempt to push them out of their ancestral land.
The meetings are a culmination of lengthy consultations between Governor Charity Ngilu and the Ministry of Defence in her endeavour to guarantee safety for the people of Kitui living along the volatile border area.
Also in attendance were Nguni MCA Ngui Kiruru, and KDF’s Major Boniface Ondiro, Major Achaka and Colonel Mohammed Mocharo, among other county officials.
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