www.Kisii.Com: Syndicated news from only reputable sources [Nation, and Standard Newspapers, Kenya Times, KBC, etc.]

MPs Split Over Gucha Constituency

Details

Published on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 18:55

Two MPs on Tuesday differed over the creation of Gucha constituency.

While MP Simon Ogari (Bomachoge) opposed the name and boundaries of the controversial constituency, his counterpart, Mr Chris Obure (Bobasi), endorsed it.

In his presentation to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner Kule Godana and director Praxedes Tororey in Kisii County, Mr Ogari said that the carving of sections of Bomachoge and Bobasi electoral wards to create Gucha constituency was unacceptable.

In the recommendations by the Ligale Commission, Bomachoge constituency was to be split into Bomachoge and Gucha constituencies, which incorporate four wards from Bobasi constituency and seven from Bomachoge.

Mr Ogari argued that this will create community feuds and revive political rivalry among the residents.

He said that the residents want the constituency to be split into Bomachoge Chache and Bomachoge Borabu.

On his part, Mr Obure endorsed proposals to create Gucha constituency, saying both Bomachoge and Bobasi did not meet the criteria to be divided.

Mr Obure said that the two neighbouring constituencies have been sharing social and administrative units since independence and does not see why the communities will fight if they share a constituency.

"It is wrong that there will be feuds and community conflicts if the commission forms Gucha constituency," said Mr Obure.

Bonchari MP Charles Onyancha asked the IEBC to add one more ward to the current four.

He also said that the commission should allow one of its wards to control the Kisii Municipality, which he said Mosocho ward had taken over.

At the same time, Education minister Sam Ongeri has criticised people who adulterated views given to the IEBC on how wards and constituencies were to be created in Nyamira and Kisii counties.

The minister said area elders, and opinion and elected leaders had presented to IEBC views on political boundaries but were surprised when the commission came up with a draft that has caused divisions among residents.

He said no one suggested to the commission that the proposed Borabu constituency should comprise some wards from Kitutu Masaba constituency.

"Leaders had agreed that Borabu District, as it is now, be a constituency without any wards from elsewhere merged with it," said Prof Ongeri, who is also a resident of Borabu District.

Due to that confusion, affected residents of Masaba North District in Kitutu Masaba, led by their MP Walter Nyambati, have met and agreed to resist any attempt to make some of their sub-locations part of Borabu constituency.

The IEBC will on Wednesday collect views from Nyamira County residents on how they want North Mugirango/Borabu constituency to be split and how wards will be merged to create only five.

He also said that it was illogical to hive part of Bobasi into Bomachoge to create the proposed Gucha constituency in Kisii County.

"We had agreed that Bomachoge be split into two without hiving part of Bobasi to the new constituency that was to be created," Prof Ongeri said.

He asked the IEBC to respect area residents' views and shun recommendations of a few individuals with personal interests that are out to cause confusion and division.