Boundary team may seek more time to finish task

By STANDARD TEAM

The boundary review team says it may seek an extension of its mandate due to the scope of work.

But Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) chairman Andrew Ligale said that the delimitation of constituencies could be ready as early as next year if all goes according to plan.

"We are foreseeing a situation where we will have to seek an extension of time from Parliament because our mandate states that we shall look at all boundaries," he said.

Mr Ligale said the work by his team could go beyond the 24 months it was given. Speaking in Nyeri ahead of its sittings in Central Province, Ligale said they were not behind schedule.

Children and Gender Affairs Minister Esther Murugi, MPs Ephraim Maina (Mathira, Safina), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa, PNU) and

Erastus Mureithi (Ol’ Kalau, PNU) attended the press conference. Ligale, who was accompanied by all the eight commissioners, denied claims by a section of Central Province MPs he was engaged in political games with the boundary issue.

He said his team consisted of professionals recruited on merit and they were non-partisan.

"We are not going to be influenced by any politicians or group. We will ensure what the team does is based on what Kenyans want," said Ligale.

Ligale said after preliminary hearings, the team would come up with a strategy to review boundaries.

"The politicians should stop peddling falsehoods against us. The mandate of the team is clearly spelt out in the legislation that was passed in Parliament," he said.

Meanwhile, Ligale said although the team would initially work with the 46 districts established under the law, it will also consider the new districts.

Meanwhile, IIBRC visits Rift Valley tomorrow to a waiting showdown between ODM and PNU Rift Valley MPs over methodology of creating new constituencies.

The MPs have pulled in different directions regarding factors should be put into consideration in the creation of new units. The province has vast and populous constituencies. ODM MPs from the region insist factors including the geographical area should form the basis of carving out new constituencies.

Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita said ODM Rift Valley MPs would present a common position during the public hearing in Nakuru.

Mwaita said population and infrastructure should be taken into consideration. But three PNU MPs Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru town), Joseph Kiuna (Molo) and Subukia’s Nelson Gaichuhie said they would root for the one-man one vote concept.

By Francis Ngige, Philip Ruto and Karanja Njoroge

 

 

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