Why IEBC must increase the number of wards in Thika and other populous areas

BY: Juma Hemedi M. - MP THIKA 2027

9th October 2025

Today, I wish to plead temporary insanity. This plea is inspired by Article 89 of our Constitution, and by the “collective political insanity” that surrounded the delimitation of electoral boundaries for constituencies, counties, and wards. Historically, this political insanity may have existed even before and during the passage of the 2010 Constitution.

I submit that, as a result, we the people are partly responsible for the political marginalization that excluded, misrepresented, and under-represented many Kenyans. These citizens pay taxes, yet in reality, they remain voters without representation in county assemblies, the National Assembly, and the Senate. They are, in truth, “political orphans,” living in what I would call a “no man’s land of boundaries.”

Allow me to explain.

What the Constitution Says

Article 89(2): The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) shall review the names and boundaries of constituencies at intervals of not less than eight years and not more than twelve years.
Article 89(3): The Commission shall review the number, names, and boundaries of wards periodically.

While the Constitution caps constituencies at 290, it places no limit on the number of wards or counties. The word “periodically” leaves room for ambiguity—this could mean three, five, ten, or even twenty years.

Historical Background – How We Got Here

9th January 2012 – IEBC published its preliminary report on constituency and ward boundaries.
9th February 2012 – A revised preliminary report was presented to Parliament’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
2nd March 2012 – Parliament submitted recommendations on the revised report.
6th March 2012 – IEBC published the National Assembly Constituencies and Wards Order, 2012 (Legal Notice No. 14 of 2012), which formalized today’s constituencies and wards.

After this Gazette Notice, Kenyans raised numerous complaints about how the 80 new constituencies and 1,450 wards were created, distributed, and named. These issues were litigated in Republic v IEBC & Another ex-parte Councilor Eliot Lidubwi Kihusa & 5 Others [2012] eKLR.

The High Court made several recommendations, including one critical point: the delimitation of ward boundaries was based on sub-locations, which limited IEBC’s ability to meet constitutional criteria like population parity. This unfairly disadvantaged more populous areas.

For example:

Kamenu Ward in Thika Constituency has over 56,000 registered voters, while Ngoliba Ward has only about 10,000. In fact, Kamenu’s voter population is equivalent to three wards in Gatundu North.
In Nakuru Town West, Kaptembwo sub-location (population 70,352) was made into one ward, while other wards in the same constituency have as few as 6,781 residents.

It is a historical fact that the current counties and wards were the result of political negotiation and compromise during the passage of the 2010 Constitution, guided by the Districts and Provinces Act of 1992, which recognized 47 districts and 1,450 sub-locations. Many more sub-locations have since been created.

The Case of Thika Constituency

Thika Constituency is heavily disadvantaged under the current setup. Based on population, Thika requires at least 14 wards to achieve closer parity.

Proposed adjustments:

Kamenu Ward → Split into 4 (Kamenu, Kiganjo, Kiang’ombe, Landless/Salama/Kisii)
Hospital Ward → Split into 3 (Market/Starehe, Majengo/Kiganda, Umoja)
Township Ward → Split into 3 (Thika CBD, Ngoingwa/Kisiwa including Tora, Athena)
Gatuanyaga Ward → Split into 2 (Gatuanyaga/Muguga, Munyu/Komo)
Ngoliba Ward → Split into 2 (Ndula/Kilimambogo, Ngoliba)

Additionally, IEBC should establish and gazette more polling and registration centres in areas such as Makongeni Phase 7, 10, and 13; Kisii area; Salama; Landless; Kiang’ombe; and the stretch between Thika Approved School and Muguga.

Conclusion

Sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya under Article 1 of the Constitution. It is therefore the duty of Thika residents to exercise that power directly, as IEBC embarks on boundary reviews, and demand not less than 14 wards to ensure fair representation.

Juma Hemedi M.
MP Thika Town Constituency, 2027