The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) chaired by Hon. George Murugara (Tharaka) met with Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East) who appeared before it to present proposals on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (2023).

The Bill seeks to amend Section 2 of the Act to insert the definition of “population quota” as defined in Article 89(12) of the Constitution; which defines population quota as the “number obtained by dividing the number of inhabitants of Kenya by the number of constituencies or wards, as applicable, into which Kenya is divided.”

In addition, the Bill seeks to amend the Act to include the provision of a framework for the delimitation of Constituencies and wards as part of the objects of the Act.

 Further, it proposes to amend Section 36 of the Act to require that any delimitation of electoral boundaries applies to the most recent national census figures and is in line with the principle of universal vote based on the aspiration of fair representation and equality of vote.  

The Bill also seeks to amend Section 36 of the Act to provide that any delimitation of electoral boundaries applies the most recent national census figures and is in line with the principle of universal vote based on the aspiration of fair representation and equality of vote.

 Additionally, the Bill seeks to amend the section to provide that population quota shall be the primary consideration in the delimitation of electoral boundaries.
On this proposed amendment Hon. Kiunjuri said, “Such a process needs to allow variation of margin of not more than 40 percent for cities and sparsely populated areas, and 30 percent for other areas as provided for under Article 89(6) of the Constitution.

 The Bill proposes that where the Commission makes a determination to vary the population quota, the Commission shall provide reasons for each variation and ensure such determination is in line with the principles of fair representation and equality of vote.