Return home for head count to save constituency, MPs tell locals
By Hillary Mageka, August 23, 2019
Six MPs have urged their constituents to return home and be counted during the census to save the constituencies from being scrapped.
The MPs include Muriuki Njagagua (Mbeere North), Kithua Nzambia (Kilome), Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita), Chachu Ganya (North Horr) and Muturi Kigano (Kangema).
The constituencies risk being merged with their neighbours if they fail to meet the population criteria in the 2012 boundary review.
As a result, they want their voters residing in other parts of the country to come home for enumeration on August 24, 2019 to save their constituencies.
The six constituencies are among the 27 that did not meet the population criteria set out in the Constitution in 2010 and risks being merged with others.
The 27 constituencies that were saved in 2012 but now face alterations in the next review are Lamu East, Lamu West, Mvita, Mwatate, Wundanyi, Voi, Bura, Galole, Ndaragwa, Tetu, Murkurweini, Othaya, Kangema, and Mathioya. Others are Samburu East, Marakwet East, Keiyo North, Mogotio, Vihiga, Budalang’i, Isiolo South, Kilome, Laisamis, North Horr, Saku, and Mbeere North.
Abdulswamad has threatened to go to court to seek for an interpretation of what constitutes, “a constituency” since most of the people in his area do not reside there.
“It’s not necessary that one must go back to the constituency but you can be counted from wherever you are. Only ensure that you state clearly that you are from Mbeere North,” Njagagua said.