Nairobi — Leaders in Murang'a have appealed to the Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission to be firm with politicians when conducting its business.

The sentiments were made during consultations ahead of next week's meeting with the team in Nyeri.

Councillors, representatives from the business community and opinion shapers in the district said they would support the one man, one vote principle.

But where possible special considerations should be given to semi-arid areas in line with geographic areas, they added.

Speaking separately in Mathioya, area MP Clement Muchiri said the IIBRC should consider the prevailing local circumstances as well as conform to international standards.

Turning to threats of travel bans, he said: "It is ironical for the American Government to use threats to push for reforms in the country. Instead of issuing travel bans in public, diplomatic channels should be used."

The MP was speaking during the distribution of cheques for Sh1 million to women groups in his constituency.

The loans, given through the Ministry of Gender and Social Development, are repaid at a rate of five per cent per month.

"This is a very subsidised loan that must be repaid to enable others to borrow", said Mary Nyambura, the Murang'a North district gender and social development officer.

Elsewhere, Agriculture minister William Ruto called on the boundaries team to consider the geographic area as well as population in creating new constituencies.

He asked leaders to strike a balance between sparsely populated arid areas and populous rural regions so that the issue does not bring a political rows.

"Every Kenyan and his vote is important. Also important is the expansiveness of the land. Every inch of Kenya is as important as the population of a place," he said.