IEBC is up to the task on new boundaries

One of the major assignments the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) has to urgently embark on, and which was inherited from the defunct Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission (IIBRC), is the creation of the proposed 80 new constituencies.

Chapter Seven, Article 89 of the Constitution, states that there shall be 290 constituencies whose members shall be members of the National Assembly.

The IEBC is supposed to review the names and boundaries of constituencies at intervals of not less than eight years, and not more than 12 years, but any review should be completed at least 12 months before a General Election of Members of Parliament.

The new commission also has the duty of reviewing the number, names and boundaries of wards periodically (elective units for county assemblies under the new Constitution).

Political representation boundaries have are a sticky issue. Tribalism, clannism and party interests have always poisoned any debate on delimitation of boundaries. The commission clearly has a difficult task ahead.

IEBC chairman Ahmed Issaack Hassan has already indicated the work ahead may take the commission about six months, meaning new boundaries may only be in place earliest after mid-next year.

And even before the commission embarks on the work, politicians in central Kenya have kicked off the storm. Politicians from the region are spoiling for a fight demanding that the new team disregard the Ligale Commission report, which Parliament adopted early this year.

Three months ago, these politicians threatened to push a proposal that the country goes into the General Election with the current 210 constituencies if their interests are not considered.

According to the Ligale Report, the 290 constituencies are supposed to be shared as follows: Coast Province 26, North Eastern 18, Eastern Province 44, Central Province 33, Rift Valley 74, Western 33, Nyanza 42, and Nairobi 17.

In reaching its decision on how to award new constituencies, the IIBRC relied on various factors such as population, geographical features, community interests such as historical, economic, cultural ties, and means of communication, among others.

Going by the sensitivity of local politics, there may be other voices of dissent in a few other places other than central Kenya. Those not satisfied with the Ligale commission proposal may feel short-changed.

Genuine as such concerns could be, there is however need for some level of rationale and re-examination of standpoints over issues around delimitation of elective units, whether parliamentary or for county assemblies.

It is not the first time issues of fairness of the Ligale commission are being raised. Questions emerged during the approval of the IEBC in Parliament, and similar questions persisted.

It should be remembered that in June, Parliament sat through to midnight, to approve the 80 new electoral areas taking the total to 290. During the debate, a Motion by Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni to introduce amendments whose intention were to water down and eventually strike out Ligale Report, were rejected.

As the country approaches transition General Election, next year, it would be important therefore for all political leaders to find a common ground and give IEBC room to work as independently as the Constitution mandates.

The IEBC needs support as it prepares to preside over the election, billed to be one of the biggest in the world, going by the number of elective positions on the ballot. It is expected that vested interests will seek to influence the commission.

We have great trust in the persons appointed to IEBC. These are professionals drawn from different fields and who were appointed after a rigorous process.

The IEBC should approach this matter with great care and do what is best for the country. The commission chairman proved himself at the helm of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission. Now we trust he will uphold the independence of this commission.