The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is embroiled in a boundary row with the Malaba North Member of the County Assembly Ichasi Imwene. Ichasi wants IEBC to explain why the population count of Korisai sub-location in his ward was moved to Amagoro sub-location in Malaba Central Ward.
In a petition to CRA, when CRA commissioners met the MCAs and the Executive, Ichasi said he had been denied one Village Administration Unit, which had been pegged on population size. “I am now appealing you to implore IEBC to return the population count of my people who have been put together with those of Amagoro,” he said.
In response, Prof. Joe Kimura said the problem should be addressed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and IEBC, and the anomaly should be corrected.
Malaba Central ward MCA Ishmael Orodi said the figure they are using is for the 2009 population census. “The boundaries of the two sub-locations have not been altered. I don’t know where this claim is originating from,” he said.
The IEBC was caught in a similar scenario when the population of Teso North and South amounting to 255,000 moved to Bungoma County, thus denying the county a share of over Kshs. 600million.
Busia County Executive Committee member for Finance Leonard Obimbira said the anomaly has since been rectified with Bungoma, thus refunding the entire amount and an excess of Kshs. 321 million.
Busia leaders have also issued warnings over schemes by a section of residents of Changara Location in Angurai East Ward who recently petitioned the Senate demanding their relocation to Bungoma County.
Led by Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, the leaders said those clamoring for the relocation of Changara Location to Bungoma County were daydreamers whose belated efforts will be met with resistance.
Kimura on his part said leaders need to sit down and address such anomalies which may cause mayhem among the communities if and when the relocation threats become a reality.