A fresh boundary conflict has emerged between Nyamira and Kisii counties after a Kisii ward representative, Peter Otachi, claimed that Ting’a market is part of Kisii County. Otachi, who represents Monyerero Ward in Kitutu Chache North, wrote to the Nyamira County government, demanding the removal of its revenue officers from the market, which lies on the border between the two counties.
In a letter dated September 16, titled “Illegal Encroachment on Ting’a Market,” Otachi addressed Nyamira’s finance chief officer, warning that the issue could escalate if his demands were ignored. He argued that both Ting’a market and the nearby dispensary are on Kisii’s side of the boundary. Otachi emphasized that, as the area’s representative, it was his duty to address “the traders’ cry for justice” and ordered Nyamira officials to “immediately stop any activities suggesting control over the area.”
The letter also called for the immediate withdrawal of Nyamira’s revenue officers and any other county employees from Ting’a Market. In response, the Nyamira County Assembly set up a special committee to investigate the issue. Speaker Enock Okero appointed Rigoma MCA Nyambega Gisesa to lead the committee, which will include all members of the assembly. The committee is tasked with identifying land parcels belonging to Nyamira that are currently occupied or at risk of being taken over by Kisii County.
Besides the Ting’a market dispute, the committee will look into other contested areas, such as the Jogoo area in Kisii town, Kisii Bottlers, Kisii National Polytechnic, and the Kisii County Assembly headquarters, which are all reportedly located within Nyamira’s borders. Speaker Okero directed the committee to submit a report within 10 days.
The committee has also contacted the State Department of Lands, Physical Planning, and Housing for details regarding the boundaries between Nyamira and its neighbouring counties—Kisii, Bomet, Kisumu, and Homa Bay.
This new boundary issue follows the resolution of a similar dispute over Keroka town, located on the Kisii-Nyamira border. The Nyamira Environment and Land Court recently settled the matter by ordering the reinstallation of boundary markers in the town, ending a long-standing disagreement over which county should collect taxes from Keroka’s residents and businesses.
