Deduct Bahari to Ganze? No, never!

KILIFI COUNTY

FEBRUARY 8, 2010

By EUGENE OMILO, WALKER MWANDOTO and BALOZI YERI

Tension was high at the Interim Independent Boundaries Commission  hearings in Kilifi yesterday owing to  a proposal to have parts of Bahari constituency  merged with Ganze constituency.

The commission, represented by Murshid Mohammed, Joseph Kaguthi and Rozaah Akinyi Buyu was in Kilifi for hearings from residents of Bahari, Ganze and kaloleni constituencies.

Though  leaders from Ganze had come to a consensus prior to the commision’s sittings to a proposal that the constituency be split into two, Ganze and Vitengeni which is to include  parts of the current Bahari constituency, most were afraid to give those views before the commission.

Those who attended said Ganze MP Francis Baya deliberately chose to absent himself at yesterdays’ hearings so that he could present the views during the second day of the sittings (today) when turnout is expected to be low.

Former Ganze MP Katana Ngala however was opposed to the move and was of the view that the current Ganze constituency remains at it is but be given more wards.

Bahari MP Ben Gunda ODM leader Joseph Chilumo and a former MP Joe Khamis were categorical that the current borders dividing the three constituencies should not be altered .

Gunda, like Khamis, proposed that Bahari be split into two constituencies, Kilifi South and Kilifi North while Khamis proposed that the constituencies be named Kikambala and Bahari constituencies.

Both leaders proposed to have the current number of ward be increased to 23 from the current 17.

Former Kaloleni MP Morris Dzoro supported proposals by local leaders that the current constituency be split into two, Mariakani and Kaloleni.

At one point, commissioner Kaguthi had to prod a  political activist from Ganze Edward Kombe to feel free to give his views as the activist hesitated to make the proposal that the proposed Vitengeni constituency includes parts of Bahari and Ganze constituency.

Those proposing for the split of Bahari said the area is highly populated owing to its location between two major municipalities, Mombasa to the North and Malindi to the South.

On the administrative boundaries, most residents from Ganze and Bahari proposed that the districts remain the same while leaders from Kaqloleni proposed that another district be carved out from the current Kaloleni district which they said was too big with over 900 square kilometres.

Most leaders also wanted the number of divisions and locations to be increased .

ENDS…