Kamukunji politician wants constituency split into two
Kamukunji 2022 MP hopeful Abdiaziz Hassan
By Abednego Mwikya
A Kamukunji politician has petitioned The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to divide Kamukunji Constituency into two.
In an exclusive interview with The Times, the 2022 MP hopeful Mr Abdiaziz Hassan, popularly known as Koofi Gaduud, said the constituency’s population is so large that reaching out to every resident of the constituency is becoming hectic.
“Eastleigh business hub should be made a constituency on its own. It is not no longer possible to serve every constituent any more because the population has risen tremendously,” said Hassan.
Through a letter seen by The Times, Hassan has asked the elections management agency to execute his request before 2022.
According to the 2019 national census, Kamukunji constituency had a population of 310000 people, 50,000 higher than the 2009 figures.
Apart from organizing and conducting elections, IEBC is also mandated with the review of ward and constituencies, majorly on the basis of population. The exercise is supposed to be undertaken at least eight years and at most twelve years since the last boundaries review. The commission is supposed to review ward and constituency boundaries before the next general elections.
In a response letter, IEBC committed to carry out his request on condition the constituency meets the threshold for a split.
Hassan warned politicians opposed to his bid to have the constituency split not to meddle in the process, adding that this is an idea of the Kamukunji electorate.
About The Author
As Resident of Kamukunji’s Eastleigh, I highly welcome the idea and strongly support the petition to split Kamukunji into two constituencies. It is about time Eastleigh, the biggest market in east and central Africa, became a ward on its own.
The population of Kamukunji is just too big for one MP. We need two or more to attend to the residents’ need.
We need more such visionary youth leaders in Kenya.