Nakuru City has a rich political history that spans back from the 1960s, up to the famous 2013 handshake between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the President Dr. William Ruto at Afraha stadium.

Many residents will recall that what used to be the larger Nakuru Town Constituency is what was split into Nakuru Town West and Nakuru Town East constituency during a boundary review in 2012.

But did you know the split that happened had an impact on some wards that were absorbed by others?

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Well, let me take you down the historical transition.

Mtaa Wangu has established that Nakuru used to have small wards such as Shauri Yako, Bondeni, Viwanda, Langalanga, Lakeview and Hospital Ward.

To begin with, Bondeni Ward was later absorbed into the current Biashara Ward that goes all the way from Bondeni-to Nakuru City centre all the way to border Nakuru East Ward (Free area) and Menengai East as well as Shabaab ward on the other side of Freehold estate.

Mzee Mohammed Ali- a resident of Bondeni estate says many locals did not understand the changes that came with the 2010 constitution.

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"Wengi walipigwa na mshangao kusikia Bondeni ward haipo tena (Many were shocked to hear the news that Bondeni will no longer be a Ward," says Ali.

That is how Bondeni ward died leaving behind just an estate.

The same goes for Shauri Yako Ward that sat adjacent to Nakuru Centre Jua Kali section, bordering Kivumbini and Phase 2 county estates.

Peter Ekokola- a resident of Kivumbini recalls the last councillor of the ward as Rose Lai.

But just like Bondeni Ward, Shauri Yako Ward was absorbed into Kivumbini Ward that now covers the whole of Kivumbini estate, Kaloleni, Paul Machanga and Manyani estate.

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Though cosmopolitan, Kivumbini Ward is considered an ODM zone as its only in August 2022 polls that an independent candidate managed to unseat the incumbent ODM seat.

Other wards that also vanished include Lake view and Langalanga wards.

The two were absorbed into Flamingo Ward.

Viwanda and Hospital wards were later absorbed into what is now London Ward in Nakuru West sub county.

It should be noted that the next Wards and Constituencies review must happen in not less than eight years and not more than 12 years since the last one which happened in 2012.

The 2019 National Population and Housing Census, published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, will be used to guide the review of constituencies and wards.

pmambili@gmail.com

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Pristone Mambili