Tuesday, January 10, 2012

IEBC launches report on new constituencies




Written By:Diana Okemwa/Claire Wanja,    Posted: Mon, Jan 09, 2012
IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan has urged Kenyans to submit their inputs with sobriety
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Monday launched its preliminary report on Delimitation of Boundaries of Constituencies and Wards
Commission chair Isaack Hassan says eight teams have been selected to conduct public hearings in the next 21 days concerning the demarcations to allow public participation as per constitution.
The public can either hand deliver their written submissions to the commission's offices, air their views during public hearings that will be held in all counties.
"We are also required to invite representations on the proposals in the Preliminary Report. To this end, the Commission will accept written submissions from the public hand delivered to the Constituency Election Coordinators (CECs), submissions may also be emailed to us (memoranda@iebc.or.ke). The Commission will also receive oral presentations during public hearings to be conducted in all the counties."
Speaking during the launch at KICC Monday,  IEBC Chairman, Isaack Ahmed Hassan pleaded with the public to look at the report with a sober mind and desist from making sweeping judgments until the 21-day  public popularization process is over after which the public can make their submissions.
He noted that the commission recognizes the sensitivity of issues raised concerning the recommendations made by the defunct Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission and is ready to exercise its mandate and uphold the rule of law.
After the 21 days for public consultations, the Commission is allowed 14 days by law to consider the input received from the public and revise the proposals in the Preliminary Report and forward the Revised Report to Parliament.
The Parliament Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs will have another 14 days to deliberate the Revised Report and forward to Parliament for discussion for another 7 days.
Parliament is then required to forward its resolutions to the Commission for the Commission to prepare the Final Report for gazettement.
"Once the Final Report is published and gazetted, the public will have another 30 days to apply to the High Court to review any decision made by the Commission in the Report. The Act allows the High Court to hear and determine 5."
"Such applications within 30 days of their filing. Once this exercise is over, the Commission will then proceed to map out the new electoral units and polling stations for purposes of voter registration and other electoral processes such as voter education on the new boundaries will follow accordingly."
The boundary delimitation will see constituencies in the country increase from the current 210 to 290.
Peaceful deliberations
Meanwhile, deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government, Musalia Mudavadi has called for peaceful deliberations on a preliminary report on delimitation of constituencies and wards.
 Speaking during the launch Mudavadi told Kenyans to discuss the report with a sober mind and also urged IEBC to guard against clan rivalries that will emerge during the public hearings.
"Let everyone be heard to minimize the prospects of litigations.Litigations will only lead to more delays. There are going to be challenges and a lot of clan issues, I would urge you to rise above this," said Musalia.
Regional Election Co-ordinators and the current 210 constituency Election coordinators will receive public views. IEBC will have 10 days to review the submissions before forwarding its recommendations to Parliament.
In the report the Commission has created an additional 80 new constituencies to the current 210 constituencies.
Commission CEO James Oswago down played media reports that the commission had largely adopted the report of its predecessor the Interim Independent Boundaries and Review Commission (IIBRC).
One of the dailies today alleged that the IEBC had retained most of the proposals made by defunct IIBRC in creating 80 constituencies.

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