This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
Published on July 8, 2019, Governor Granton Samboja of Taita Taveta County was questioned by detectives for over three hours regarding allegations of inciting residents to attack herders who had invaded the area in search of pasture.
The questioning, which took place on Monday, also involved the recording of statements from Taita Taveta Senator Jones Mwaruma, Woman Representative Lydia Haika, and Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime.
According to Governor Samboja, the questioning was related to the two-month-long conflict between herders and farmers in parts of Taita Taveta County.
'I was asked quite a number of questions. We now leave the matter to the detectives, but it's everything to do with the camel issue and security,' Governor Samboja said.
Following the questioning, Governor Samboja vowed to rally leaders in the county to spread the message of peace and cohesion.
The summons come just a month after a farmer was murdered in cold blood by suspected camel herders at his farm in Kirumbi village when he barred the herders from grazing in his farm.
Residents subsequently slaughtered close to 50 camels and maimed tens of others in what was seen as a retaliatory attack.
A case between some herders and the county government is ongoing at Voi High Court after Governor Samboja allegedly canceled an ongoing land lease entered between the herders and the previous Taita Taveta County Government.
