Politicians should focus less on the issues that divide them and pay more attention to those that are meant to benefit the country and put it on a trajectory of peace and prosperity.

It is disheartening to watch as the leaders disagree on just one issue, to wit, whether to audit the results of the last presidential election or not.

Rather than prosecuting the merits or demerits of their standpoints vis-à-vis those of their rivals, it is important to note that at present, Kenya has no functional electoral commission and this has left the country in a precarious position.

As such, and since there appears to be agreement on this issue, it would be beneficial to all that politicians inside and outside the Bomas talks framework invest their attention and energies in ensuring there is a new commission in place so that it can embark on the important job of reviewing constituency boundaries.

The country also needs to put in place adequate preparations for the 2027 elections and it will not help matters if the commission is left in abeyance until it is too late.

This is the problem that has bedeviled the country’s elections in the past. Now, leaders have the opportunity to right this wrong but instead, they have chosen to bicker over just one of the five agenda items.

Already, legislators from minority and marginalised groups have signaled that they want 11 new constituencies. This is a matter that needs to be debated urgently, first because the input of both the National Assembly and Senate will be needed if such a move were to be taken but also because there has to be involvement of the electoral commission at some point.

There are constitutionally prescribed deadlines for constituency boundaries to be reviewed. Unless politicians are trying to forestall this by engaging in side shows, this is the one area they need to focus attention on because it has huge implications on sharing of resources.

This should be seen against the backdrop of the agenda item on entrenching the National Government Constituency Development Fund in the Constitution. For this to have meaning for citizens, it will be necessary to review constituency boundaries to ensure equity in the sharing of CDF cash. But, again, for this to happen, Kenya needs an electoral commission.

That is why it is important for Bomas talks to focus on this agenda item since there appears to be goodwill for it on both sides. And since they agreed that once dispensed with a matter will be taken to Parliament for adoption, this is a low hanging fruit that can yield a quick win all round.