A war of words erupted in Tana River County on Saturday between Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Governor Dhadho Godana during a high-profile public event. The clash occurred at Oda, Garsen, during the homecoming ceremony of National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Chairperson Dr. Amani Yuda Komora.
Governor Godana accused the national government of sidelining sections of the county and dividing Tana River along clan and regional lines. He claimed that key national projects had stalled and that most development efforts had been left to partners rather than the state.
“The national government has abandoned us,” Godana lamented. “Tana River is being divided between the Tana Delta and the North. Everything is focused on Tana Delta, and we are being ignored.”
He further alleged that senior government appointments from the county were dominated by individuals from the Tana Delta region, including former governor Hussein Dado, PS Dokota, Senator Danson Mungatana, and NPSC Chair Amani Komora.
However, CS Murkomen fired back, rebuking the governor for what he termed as a lack of accountability and persistent blame games. “You are a governor. Why can’t you tell us what you have done for your people? Every time national government officers come here, you only complain,” Murkomen said.
He praised other governors, including Gladys Wanga of Homa Bay and Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir of Mombasa, for working with the national government regardless of their political affiliations. Murkomen urged Godana to take advantage of the current broad-based government for the benefit of his constituents.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also attended the event, avoided the confrontation but called for unity and peace, stressing that harmony was key to attracting investment and long-term development in Tana River.
