Why The BBI Report Will Cause A Rise In Political Temperatures

BBI team Chairman Senator Yusuf Haji and vice-chairman Adams Oloo

The BBI team co-chaired by Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji and political scientist Adams Oloo announced the completion of the report three weeks ago.

The team is set to hand over the report today to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga any time from today after the final review. It has been revealed that the number of constituencies will be reduced from the current 290 to 210 that were there before the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.

The MPs are also set to lose authority to manage Constituency Development Funds (CDF). The money will be channelled through national and county government treasuries.

Apart from reducing the constituencies, the BBI team is also recommending that IEBC reduce the number wards, which currently stand at 1,450.

The reduction of constituencies and wards could cause a rise in political temperatures in the country given that a number of legislators have already opposed the move.

Constituencies that would have numbers below the 133,000 quota could be lined up for scrapping according to the report.

IEBC will use the recent population statistics which placed Kenya’s population at 47.6 million even though some politicians have disputed it.

However,  the number of Woman Reps will be increased to 94 hence addressing the two-thirds gender rule as provided for in the 2010 Constitution.