Three appeals filed in boundaries dispute

Twenty five applicants have filed notices of appeal expressing dissatisfaction with a ruling of five judges on electoral units. The residents of Wajir, Fafi and Gatundu North had filed the applications with intention to appeal against the ruling of the decision delivered last week. In one of the appeals, 19 residents say they are dissatisfied with the judgment.

In the ruling, Justices Mohamed Warsame, Ruth Sitati, Hellen Omondi, Pauline Nyamweya and David Majanja dismissed most of the cases retaining the 290 constituencies the way that had been proposed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. The judges also absolved the IEBC of blame saying that it followed the law in creating the new constituencies.

To correct the anomalies detected by the court in the delimitation exercise, the judges merged some wards and moved others to the neighbouring constituencies to ensure equal representation. In Wajir, seven applications were filed, six of which were dismissed except for Wajir West constituency. According to the judges, Wajir West will now comprise the following ward: Ademasajida, Hadado/Athibohol, Arbajahan and Ganyure/Wagalla. Ganyure/Wagalla county assembly ward will comprise the following sub-locations Bamishe, Ganyure, Bojiheri, Kukale and Wagalla with a population of 23,913.

In Wajir South constituency, the county assembly wards will comprise Habaswein, Bename, Lagbogol South, Ibrahim Ure, Burder, Diif and Dadajabula. Diif County Assembly Ward shall comprise Gerille, Hambalash and Salalma and Diif sub-locations with a population of 15,692. Ibrahim Ure County Assembly Ward shall comprise Kulaaley, El Adow, Ibrahim Ure and Handaki sub-locations with a population of 19,926. Dadajabula shall comprise Dadajabula sub-location with a population of 8,693.