Push to scrap colonial three-mile land rule
Residents of Garissa, Kenya, are calling for the abolition of a colonial-era land boundary that separates them from Tana River county. The National Land Commission is currently reviewing historical land injustices, and locals argue this boundary hinders access to essential resources.
Why it matters
This reflects broader post-colonial efforts in Africa to rectify administrative borders that disrupt local community livelihoods and resource access.
Residents of Garissa at the forum /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Calls to abolish the controversial colonial-era three-mile land boundary between Garissa and Tana River counties dominated a public participation forum on proposed regulations governing historical land injustices.
Garissa residents attending the National Land Commission public participation on the National Land Commission (Historical Land Injustices) Regulations, 2026, urged the commission to use the new framework to reopen the long-running dispute and address what they described as a historical wrong affecting communities living along the Tana River.
The residents want the disputed strip, which they argue was placed under the administrative control of the former Tana River district during the colonial period, restored to Garissa in the region for generations since Kenya's independence.
Resident Aden Bille questioned why the colonial arrangement remained after independence, arguing the government should have consulted local communities when it reorganised districts.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in