Boundaries review team wants your views to count

By Peter Orengo

The Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) has planned a 100-day public hearings schedule.

The commission will move around the country, starting February 1, to collect views from Kenyans on how they wish to be represented.

Commission Chairman Andrew Ligale said a detailed timetable would be released today, highlighting where IIBRC will be for the next three months.

A team of three commissioners will listen to views of Kenyans in each venue. Lokichogio, Mwingi and Voi will give their views on the first day, followed by Lodwar, Kitui and Mombasa. Kapenguria and Kwale will be heard on the third day.

The last hearing will be on May 10, in Bondo. Nairobi residents will give their views on May 4 and 5, at Charter Hall.

"By July, IIBRC will start analysing the views, then draw comparative lessons from best practices from around the world," Mr Ligale said yesterday.

Foreign trips

This will include the group travelling to selected countries in an exercise Ligale said was to "enable the commission draw on expert views, studies and population data to make preliminary decisions on where electoral and administrative boundaries should lie".

He said there will also be a weekly reminder on radio about the public hearings for Kenyans to benefit from views of others and ensure openness and transparency.

"We appeal to all Kenyans to seize this moment to examine boundaries at the constituency, ward, district and other administrative levels and prepare their presentations," he said.

He said a civic education team will prepare citizens on how to engage the commission. Submissions may be oral or in writing, including transmission by email or by post.

"Submissions will be on ‘first come, first served’ basis and the commission shall have the powers to determine the duration," Ligale said.

He said matters on security of the State will not be heard, although the commission may receive submissions on camera.

He also asked politicians not to inflame Kenyans with divergent views, but bring them before the team.

Commissioner Joseph Kaguthi said: "Those in urban centres and in sparsely populated areas must feel represented after this exercise."

Another commissioner, Ms Rosa Buyu said in 2012, politicians would be judged on how the influenced reforms in the country.