By Lucianne Limo

Residents of Kajiado North, Kangema and Ndhiwa constituencies will elect their new representatives on September 17.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Isaack Hassan asked political parties to nominate their candidates by August 15 and forward the names to the electoral body by August 23.

He also announced that polls for seven civic seats would also be held on the same day.

President Kibaki assented the Statute (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act 2012 two weeks ago setting stage for the by-elections.

The President amended the provisions of the Elections Act and thereby enabling Speaker of the National Assembly to issue writs for the pending by-elections.

Writs isued

On Friday, Speaker Kenneth Marende issued writs officially declaring Kangema, Kajiado North and Ndhiwa parliamentary seats vacant.

The Kangema seat fell vacant when John Michuki passed on after illness in February. At the time of his death he was minister for Environment.

The Kangema MP was admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital only two days after arriving from UK where he was undergoing treatment.

Kajiado North and Ndhiwa seats fell vacant after Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti and his deputy, Mr Joshua Orwa Ojodeh died in a helicopter crash in the Ngong Forest on June 10.

The two died alongside two pilots Capt Nancy Gituanja and Luke Oyugi and two bodyguards Inspector Joshua Tonkei and Sergeant Thomas Murimi.

The Eurocopter AS 350 crashed shortly after 9am in Kibiku area in Ngong. The helicopter is said to have exploded on impact.

An inquest into the cause of the crash is ongoing and is headed by Justice Kalpana Rawal.

Political parties will find new ground to test for their popularity. TNA is popular in Kangema and already local officials are preparing to battle other parties in the region like Grand National Union of Mwangi Kiunjuri, Martha Karua’s Narc-Kenya and Kenya Social Congress headed by Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth.

Former Ndhiwa MP Orwa Ojode was a staunch ODM member and the battle is expected to be stiff for party the ticket. Saitoti’s opponent in the 2007 polls Moses ole Sakuda could be leading aspirant for Kajiado North.