Rift MPs disagree over boundaries plan

An effort by Rift Valley members of Parliament to come up with a harmonised memorandum for the creation of the region’s new administrative boundaries has failed to materialise.

This follows emerging conflicts between ODM and PNU legislators to reach consensus on various contentious issues that arose during a recent public hearing meeting held in Nakuru.

The 49 elected and two nominated MPs from the political divide forming the Grand Coalition Government had submitted conflicting recommendations to Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission during the November 6 meeting at Old Town Hall.

When they finally met on Thursday to fine-tune the two documents, the seven-man team comprising of Mr Isaac Ruto, Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri, Mr Lee Kinyanjui and Mr Josephat Nanok allegedly failed again to midwife a harmonised document.

Other MPs include Professor Margaret Kamar, Mr Joseph Nkaisery and Mr Katoo ole Metito who were entrusted with formulating a policy guideline for administrative and political representation.

One of the committee members said the contentious issues arising from their latest meeting was how to strike a balance on that proposes for additional 29 more constituencies/districts to match the region’s population and land mass.

Mr Isaac Ruto of ODM intimated that one of the contentious issue so far was the one-man-one-vote proposal which his PNU counterparts were supporting as opposed to that of one-man-one-kilometre.

ODM, Mr Ruto said was fronting for a hybrid system that would capture all the interest of the regions diversity to ensure that the region gets 28.6 per cent of the total constituencies envisaged to be created and the existing ones.

Through consultation with the Rift Valley Parliamentary Group, the special committee would once again hold another meeting next week with a view of resolving the stalemate before a final harmonised document was handed over to Andrew Ligale-led review commission.

The ODM team feels that since independence the region has been given a raw deal whereby despite having the largest population distribution and land mass.

“As a province at independence Rift Valley had 13 out of 41 districts which reasonably represented a fair share based on its land mass and population which both equals 31.7 per cent but this has significantly distorted under the current distribution to 23.6 per cent (60 out of 254 districts) instead of 81,” said Mr Ruto. 

The MPs want to build a consensus not just as people of Rift Valley but also put into consideration the interest of other regions so that at the end of the day their recommendations appeared to be in harmony with the country at large.

PNU on the other hand wants the creation of new districts/constituencies based on urban, rural and sparsely populated constituencies so as to avoid the gross differentials of constituency populations.

“That we need to apply the deviation of constituencies between urban, rural and sparsely populated constituencies to be legislated by parliament immediately and be within the limits recommended by the Kriegler Commission (a maximum of 20 per cent)

ODM vowed to push for an equal share in parliamentary representation to ensure that they were slotted a third of seats through the establishment of 29 more constituencies.

“If we are to reach a compromised position, Rift Valley would push for a minimum of 58 seats in parliament and 70 on the existing 210 constituencies, said Mr Ruto.

The legislator differed with the position taken by former President Daniel arap Moi for objecting the division of Rift Valley arguing that Kanu regime contributed to the historical injustices that the region had witnessed as compared to other provinces.

“Former President (Moi) is not agreeable to creation of new districts/constituencies because they are the smallest units of devolution benefiting from devolved funds such as Constituency Development Fund which during his tenure was not there and that is why we are of the opinion that a cluster of districts should form a province for the purpose of equitable distribution of resources and representation,” said Mr Ruto.

The retired Head of State opposed the splitting of the expansive Rift Valley province into smaller administrative units for fear that such issue would inflame frictions in the country’s most cosmopolitan region.

In his memorandum presented by one Mr Jonathan Bii of Kanu in Eldoret noted that the boundary review issue was emotive if not carefully handled.

“Dividing Rift Valley into smaller units would bring to the surface ethnic factors which were bound to inflame unnecessary frictions and ethnic harmony was better guaranteed if the province remained as a unit rather than fragmenting it,” he observed.

Area MPs recommended that Rift Valley should be split to pave way for the creation of South Rift, Central Rift, North Rift and Upper North Rift regions which Mr Moi said its boundaries should not be tampered with because it was a home to majority of Kenyan communities.

“The review of boundaries should take into account the basic principles of population, geographical factors, community interests and resource distribution,” said the former President.

He added that the creation of new administrative units “was acceptable so long as constituencies were not being used as the sole reason to create new districts.”

Former member of parliament for Keiyo South Nicholas Biwott in his capacity as Vision Party leader also opposed the proposed division of the province and rooted for hybrid style of one-man-one-vote and one man one-kilometre.

“Consideration must be given to geographical, communications and community cohesion along with other factors when addressing the issue of boundaries,” said the former powerful cabinet Minister during Kanu regime under President Moi.

He said it was impossible for the entire country to be homogeneous geographically, population density arguing that the existing constituencies should be maintained for stability unless the sub-provinces recently created were reconstituted afresh in consultation with local communities.

Mr Biwott termed special communities that have been marginalised in terms of distribution of resources and lack of representation as in need of special consideration such as the Sabaot of Mount Elgon which he proposed should be allowed to join Rift Valley.

According to majority of the Rift Valley MPs including Cabinet ministers led by Mr William Ruto, William ole Ntimama, Henry Kosgey and Professor Helen Sambili, they were in agreement that additional constituencies should be established.