Kangema and Mathioya MPs oppose IEBC proposal to merge constituencies
By Wangari Njuguna, October 14, 2025Kangema Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kihungi and his Mathioya counterpart Edwin Mugo have opposed any plans by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to merge their constituencies in the upcoming boundary review exercise.
The two constituencies have long enjoyed immunity from dissolution due to low population, but proposals to merge them have unsettled the area legislators.
Originally, Kangema and Mathioya were one administrative unit until 1988, when Mathioya was carved out to enhance representation.
However, the split led to lower population figures, prompting leaders at the time to lobby for constitutional protection from boundary alterations, a safeguard that lapsed in 2020.
With the constituencies now eligible for review, the MPs are fighting to retain the status quo, warning that a merger would disadvantage residents.
Kihungi said the populations in both areas have grown, and with it, the demand for more resources.
“The demand for development projects is high as the number of people has increased, and that’s why we’re fighting for the constituencies to remain as they are,” he said.
“Merging them would deprive residents of the effective representation they currently enjoy.”
According to IEBC data, Mathioya has a population of 92,814 and 58,102 registered voters, while Kangema has 80,447 residents and 52,002 registered voters. Both, however, fall short of the population threshold for rural constituencies, which ranges between 98,000 and 230,000 people.
In 2020, there was a proposal to hive off parts of Kiharu Constituency and merge them with Kangema and Mathioya to boost their populations, a move fiercely opposed by residents and leaders who insisted that Kiharu remain intact.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro argued that instead of splitting constituencies, the government should allocate more funds for local development.
“This is one of the constituencies in Murang’a with a high population, and instead of dividing it, more resources should be allocated,” he said.
The last boundary review was conducted in 2012, and under the Constitution, another must occur within eight to twelve years.
Currently, 26 constituencies that have been under population immunity since 2012 will likely be the main focus of the next IEBC review.