Nairobi — The ongoing debate over constituency boundary review has created sharp divisions that threaten to spill over to constitutional review process. In the last week, politicians have been involved in a contest over the formula to be adopted by the Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission as it carries out its mandate.

The standoff become became pronounced even as the Committee of Experts plans to retreat to Kilaguni on Monday to fine-tune the draft constitution. Some politicians want the boundary review process and the constitution making process harmonised.

The Sunday Nation has learnt that some politicians now see constituencies as a major asset as the new constitution proposes a more powerful Parliament. The party with the majority will land the premiership, consequently having control over government affairs.

Central Kenya MPs met twice this week to strategise on how they were to deal with the Andrew Ligale-led team when it visits regions where they have interests from Monday. The boundaries commission will hold sittings in Nairobi before proceeding to Central Province on October 2, then to Rift Valley on October 5.

Second meeting

When they emerged from their second meeting on Friday, the central Kenya MPs said the formula on how constituencies will be divided in the country must be included in the draft constitution. They noted that the two process must feed to each other and it would be a mistake to leave the formula out.

"You cannot address the constitution without having dealt with the boundaries. And we will not accept a situation where the constitution lacks this aspect," Imenti North MP Silas Muriuki said. The central Kenya MPs say their quest for more constituencies based on population is not part of the 2012 strategy although some of their comments are pointing to that direction.

They see additional constituencies as the option that will make the region remain relevant in governance if it loses the presidency in 2012. But Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni says that it would be a mistake for his colleagues to think of 2012 in the review process.

According to him, the central Kenya MPs are seeking to have the country reach a consensus on the issue thus their insistence on the boundaries formula be put in the constitution. Led by President Kibaki, central Kenya has been at the forefront in asking that the review team considers the high population in the area in the constituency boundary review.

In his Kenyatta Day address, the President Kibaki said for there to be a "fair electoral process", the boundaries team need to "apply the principle of one person one vote". But this has been greeted with opposition from other parts of the country, especially MPs from northern Kenya and the Coast.

On Friday, a group of MPs led by Fafi MP Aden Duale said they would not allow any group or individual to interfere with either the boundary or constitution review. But MPs from parts of Rift Valley Province say the issue was being contested for no reason.

Agriculture minister William Ruto said the country should consider all factors to arrive at a compromise. "Yes population is important but the Constitution provides for other factors - geographical considerations, size of the unit of representation, community of interests, means of communication. I think we should not blow out of proportion the issue of population. Neither should be exaggerate the importance of other issues," Mr Ruto said.

But Nakuru Town MP Lee Kinyanjui the divergent positions were neither right nor wrong. He noted that the most important thing was getting the right formula and not creating regional positions.