K5mil to start boundary work

THE Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) is ready to review electoral boundaries after the Government allocated K5 million for it, commission chairman Simon Sinai says.
“Although we need K14 million, the Government gave us K5 million to at least get some work done as reviewing of electoral boundaries is well overdue,” he said.
“The last successful boundaries commission review was in 1977.”
Sinai said they would be going out throughout the country next month.
“This year marks the 15-year period review for the electoral boundaries under section 125 of the Constitution. Hence, in August 2018, the National Executive Council (NEC) tasked the commission to undertake a nationwide enquiry of the open electorate boundaries.
“The boundaries have to be revised, taking in consideration the population density, physical features and communications, existing electoral boundaries, local level government and other administrative areas and community and diversity whether it considers relevant to do so.”
Sinai announced new members of EBC and they are surveyor-general Chris Manda (Lands Department), McDonald Nale (private lawyer), Francis Kaigarua, (Department of Provincial Affairs and Local Level Government ) John Igitoi (National Statistician) and Karo Lelai (private lawyer).
“Since 1977, reports submitted to successive national governments were not considered and the last submission was in 2006.
“The Government’s response was that they will have a look at it and come back to the commission.
“But then they never did.”