IEBC to start obeying court ruling

The electoral commission will start renaming and merging wards across the country as directed by the High Court.

The commission’s chief executive officer, Mr James Oswago, said their lawyers had read the five-judge bench court ruling issued on Monday and will comply with the orders.

“We will start acting on the orders by the end of this week. The latest will be by Wednesday next week,” he said on phone.

This comes a day after the ruling retained the 80 new constituencies created by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, but tinkered with names of wards, merged others and moved some sub-locations. (READ: Court alters IEBC's county wards)

In Coast, the five new constituencies were retained, which increases the number of seats to 26. In Mombasa County, Magongo ward was renamed Changamwe Ward, and like Miritini Ward, was returned to Changamwe Constituency.

In Kwale County, Funzi, Kingwende and Shirazi sub-locations were transferred from Pongwe/Kikoneni Ward of Lunga Lunga Constituency to Ramisi Ward of Msambweni Constituency.

Ramisi therefore has Mivumoni, Milalani, Vigunjini, Kingwede, Funzi and Shirazi sub-locations. Pongwe/Kikoneni Ward will comprise Bumbani, Majoreni, Mzizima, Shimoni and Wasini/Mkwiro sub-locations.

Dungicha Ward of Ganze Constituency in Kilifi County will be renamed Ganze Ward, while Jibana Ward of Rabai Constituency will be renamed Kambe/Ribe Ward.

The areas under the ward include Pangani/Maereni, Chauringo and Kikomani/Mbwaka sub-locations with a population of 17,311.
In Lamu County, Faza Ward will now comprise Pate, Shanga, Siyu, Tchundwa, Myabogi, Kwatongani, Kwatini and Kizingtini sub-locations. Kiunga Ward, on the other hand, will comprise Rubu/Mwabore, Mkokoni, Ndau and Kiwayuu sub-locations.

In Taita Taveta County, Tsavo West sub-location was moved to Mata County Assembly Ward. The map for Taveta Constituency will also be amended to reflect Tsavo West and Ndilidau sub-locations.

In North Eastern’s Garissa County, Dujis Constituency will be known as Garissa Township Constituency. Medina sub-location, will be moved from Balambala Constituency to Garissa Township Constituency.

Aldongo-Arba sub-location will also be removed from Balambala Constituency and transferred to Daadab Constituency. Sankuri Ward shall comprise Balicha, Shimbir, Sankuri, Raya, Athleyley sub-locations.

Galbet Ward of Garisssa Township Constituency shall now comprise of Galbet and Medina sub-locations. Dertu Ward of Daadab Constituency shall comprise Dertu and Alango-Arba sub-location.