Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has called for a review of constituency boundaries ahead of the 2027 General Election.
On Thursday, June 12, Onyonka urged the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights to fast-track the process, noting that it is long overdue.
According to Onyonka, the accelerating population growth in some counties, such as Kisii, Nyamira, and Migori Counties, will undermine equitable representation in the upcoming general polls if constituency boundaries are not reviewed on time.
Onyonka further emphasised the need for clear policies to prevent future delays in boundary reviews and to uphold the constitutional rights of Kenyan citizens to fair representation in Parliament.
"The Senator expressed concern that population growth in counties such as Kisii, Nyamira, and Migori has resulted in constituencies that are disproportionately large, undermining the principle of equitable representation," a statement from Parliament read.
"The review of constituency and ward boundaries, as required by Article 89 of the Constitution, is overdue and must be conducted to ensure fairness in representation and effective service delivery," it added.
The Constitution mandates the IEBC to review constituency boundaries and names at intervals of not less than eight years and not more than twelve years.
The IEBC last reviewed constituency boundaries on March 7, 2012. The next review, which was initially scheduled for 2020, has been delayed by four years.
The issue of constituency boundaries has long stirred debate in Kenya’s political space. A month ago, former Farmers Party Leader Irungu Nyakera warned that 27 constituencies risk being scrapped if the boundary review process is not initiated soon.
Nyakera, in a statement on Tuesday, April 22, said that the scrapping of these constituencies, which he claims their existence is temporary, would affect the upcoming general elections because it would mean that no member of parliament could be elected from them in the 2027 general elections.
According to Nyakera, these constituencies were created in 2010 under an exception, as they did not meet the population threshold required by the Constitution.
“To avert an impending crisis, the IEBC should be immediately reconstituted, and the NADCO legislative proposals enacted to either extend the timeline for the boundary review or provide permanent protection for these constituencies,” Nyakera said. “The Supreme Court should also give its advisory opinion and provide legal clarity.”
He added that the Constitution allowed the constituencies to exist temporarily on the condition that the IEBC would conduct a boundary review by March 2024 at the latest.
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