Small Constituencies Eyeing Inexistence Ahead Of 2019 Census

With the national population census 2019 set to start later this month, constituencies that exist without meeting population criteria are on the spot.

More than 27 constituencies risk being done away with or getting split because they do not meet the minimum population of 170,000.

At a time when Kenyans are open to the idea of reducing the number of political leaders, the question of whether the protected constituencies will continue existing after the census is a dilemma.

Constituencies such a Budalang’i, Mvita and Saku, that according to the Andrew Ligale Commission have an average of 133,138 people are still recognized as constituencies.

Lamu East had the smallest population of about 19000, closely following Saku constituency in Marsabit which in the last decade has been at 46,500.

Andrew Ligale, however, thinks that because of the increase of population in some regions, splitting may be an option which will result in more constituencies falling below the required population criteria.

He said that the existing constituencies protected by his 2010 commission are protected just because they were in existence but warns that should there be more constituencies created that will not meet the criteria, that would mean the state spends more money.

“We shouldn’t allow the country to end up with too many constituencies because of the obvious implications, including the high costs. We will need to upgrade the basic threshold to ensure that we only have those that we can sustain,” he said.

He also urges Kenyans to withdraw the protection so that the country has only constituencies that meet the requirements.

As the census will definitely inform the revision of boundaries as required by law, MPs of the constituencies that are likely to be affected have started campaigns on the same ahead of the census exercise that will tale place starting August 24.

Bondo MP has urged all his constituents to ensure they are counted so that they are not left out as his constituency has an excess of 50,000 people.

James Wandayi of Ugunja constituency which is likely to be affected urged his constituents to support the national exercise as it happens for the good of the country in terms of planning.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has the mandate to realign the borders of Kenya’s constituencies in the lead up to the 2022 General Election.

In 2012 the review determined the population quota to be at an average of 133,138. If the IEBC decides to maintain this number, then the question of additional constituencies will be inevitable, as the population is higher than it was during the 2009 census.

However, owing to the fact that Kenya is facing rough economic times, the commission may consider scrapping off some wards and constituencies, as it was determined that 30 constituencies mostly from northern Kenya and coastal region do not meet the population requirements.

Read Also: 2019 Census Exercise: Who it Targets and What Questions to Expect