Experts propose 300 constituencies

By Peter Opiyo and Beauttah Omanga

Experts have recommended 133, 000 as the minimum population for each constituency, which will make 300 constituencies across the country.

Sources say the experts said the country’s 40 million population would adequately be represented in Parliament if a uniform figure was arrived at in creating constituencies.

"It was the view of the experts that 300 constituencies will be sufficient if the country’s population was to be sufficiently represented in Parliament," added the source.

Two experts, Prof Peter Aduol and Johnstern Sakancha, had been called to help resolve a deadlock over representation.

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution Review (PSC) was divided on whether to go by the experts’ proposal or stick to their own recommendation to create 56 new electoral areas.

Mandate usurped

The issue of representation also saw divisions among PNU representatives as Gichugu MP Martha Karua opted to join the ODM wing during the one-hour party consultations.

A source said the Gichugu MP supported a pure presidential system floated by the ODM and convinced majority of the members to adopt it.

Separately, the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) has accused PSC of usurping its mandate.

This was after the PSC sealed a deal on the number of electoral units for the proposed constitution.

Consequently, it has turned down an invitation by PSC to join the constitutional talks in Naivasha to help the 26 MPs on how electoral boundaries would be reviewed.

The commission chairman Andrew Ligale said PSC sought their advice on the criteria to use in drawing constituency and other boundaries, but affirmed the commissioners would not honour the invitation.

"It appears that a decision has already been reached on the number of constituencies. We find this development both dangerous and alarming," said Mr Ligale. He said IBRC’s mandate is clearly spelt out in the law.

PSC had settled on 266 constituencies at the Naivasha retreat but wants IIBRC to help it out with how to create them. But the Ligale-led team said yesterday the decision to create constituencies lies with Kenyans not politicians.

"We suspect that certain sections of the political leadership would like to reach a deal on how many constituencies to create for themselves and where, without consulting the Kenyans," he said.

Offensive request

Ligale said IIBRC had unveiled a schedule of public hearings to guide it in executing its mandate.

"This commission is being asked to act as a rubberstamp in this scheme. It is a request we find offensive and totally unacceptable. We, as a commission, are unable to accept this invitation. We cannot and shall not legitimise this decision," said Ligale.

Addressing the media in Nairobi, the commission asked PSC to stick to consensus building saying, "Representation of the people is not in contention because we are on top of it".

Accompanied by other commissioners, Ligale said the Committee of Experts excluded the details on representation in the revised Harmonised Draft Constitution after it understood the mandate of IIBRC when the commission submitted its presentation before it.

"Deciding the representation of the people is not about a few individuals sitting in a room with pencils to draw lines on a map. It is important to ask people what works for them and what does not," said Ligale.