The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has revealed that they do not have the mandate to make changes on increasing the number of constituencies in the upcoming boundaries review.
A document prepared by the electoral agency has shown that unless Parliament changes the Constitution to alter the number from the current 290, IEBC does not have the powers to do so.
The Constitution set the number of constituencies at 290, which the commission affirmed cannot be added or reduced in its review of boundaries unless that number is guided by law.
The agency will, however, increase or decrease the number of wards from the current 1,450 to a number that will be determined by the population size.
[caption caption="IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati (centre) with Kilifi commission officials "]
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In a brief prepared by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, the agency maintained that the earliest the review will be done is 2020 after the 2019 population census results are out.
IEBC stated in the brief: “The commission is at liberty to review the boundaries and names of constituencies."
It added: "It is apparent, however, that the review does not mean increasing the number of constituencies unless the Constitution is changed.”
Although the electoral agency may not have the powers to change the number of constituencies, IEBC maintained that the law allows it to change their sizes.
Chebukati noted that the commission was yet to receive official complaints from the Opposition over its plans to review electoral boundaries.
[caption caption="IEBC Chairman Chebukati with NASA leaders"]
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Speaking in Kilifi County, Chebukati maintained that he learnt about the issue from the media and the agency will respond once there is an official communication.
