Residents urged to stop establishing structures along no man’s land

Loitoktok, Saturday, June 17, 2023

KNA by Kimani Tirus

Residents living along the Kenya-Tanzania border have been advised to stop constructing new structures along no man’s land as both governments engage in remarking the border.

During sensitization meetings held at the Kamwanga area in Tanzania and Rombo ward in Kenya, the residents were advised to stop building permanent structures along the buffer zone for soon they may end up being demolished.

Loitoktok Ag Deputy County Commissioner John Kenedy Changandu said once the ongoing joint project of reaffirming the border beacons by the two countries and establishment of the buffer zone is concluded then the fate of structures that will fall within the zone will be determined.

Changandu pointed out that the ongoing activity has found some permanent residential houses within no man’s land. He however, he said the teams conducting the exercise have no authority to determine the fate of the structures however urged the residents not to worry but desist from establishing new ones.

The DCC added that after the exercise leaders from both countries will enter into a treaty that will replace the Anglo-Germany treaty which defined the border.

He further noted that in the agreement it will determine the fate of the structures within the buffer zone whether there will be compensation or not.

On the concern of residents whose title deeds indicate their pieces of land stretch to the beacons on the border, the sub-county boss urged them not to worry for that will be addressed by teams from both sides.

His counterpart from Tanzania, Director in the Ministry of land and Housing, Charles Mashuro said copies of the border treaty that will be entered by the two countries will be taken to African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) for custody.

Mashuro noted that in case of any possible future disagreement over the border, the copies can be used to resolve the disagreement.

The joint beacon reaffirmation exercise which is ongoing from Lake Victoria to Vanga in the Indian Ocean covers a 760km stretch and is set in six phases and is in phase two from Namanga to Loitoktok, a 110 km stretch.

The exercise is replacing beacons that are worn out due to weathering and those which have been destroyed as locals speculate the presence of precious jewels under the beacons.

The exercise is also constructing new beacons to lessen the distance between existing ones for easy visibility by the locals.

Courtesy ; K. N. A