Uhuru steps into governors’ row

By Rawlings Otieno and Moses Michira

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta has stepped in to ease tension between the 47 governors and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission over pay.

The President also used a meeting with the county leaders to assure them of his support for devolution after recent rows between them and central Government over offices and the right to fly the Kenyan flag on their official vehicles.

Accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, President Uhuru assured the Governors of his personal support in ensuring that the devolved system of government works.

Sources who attended Thursday meeting but asked that they not be quoted, as they are not allowed to speak on behalf of the Head of State, told The Standard that the County CEOs were very candid with Uhuru and that the meeting was cordial.

“The issues we are raising are the same ones we gave to (retired President) Kibaki who refused to meet us privately and instead went on to dismiss them as petty grievances,” said one of the governors.

The sources said Uhuru was receptive to them and the meeting resolved to form a committee to deal with all the grievances raised.

Members of the committee include six governors led by Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Hussein Dado (Tana River), William Kabogo (Kiambu) and Peter Munya (Meru), while the central Government will be represented by Attorney General Githu Muigai, Treasury PS Joseph Kinyua and Head of the Public Service Francis Kimemia

The committee, according to our sources, will report back within two weeks on its progress.

Among the issues the governors raised are the lack funds to kick off of the devolution.

The sources said Uhuru was categorical that his presidency depends on the success of devolution as outlined in the Constitution.

“He promised to do everything within his powers to ensure that devolution works, saying that if the governors did not succeed, then the same would apply to his presidency,” added the sources.

The meeting came a day after the SRC led by Sarah Serem refused to meet with a team representing the governors.

Thursday’s meeting at State House, Nairobi, was intended to ease the rising tense relations between the governors and Ms Serem, who has reportedly said salaries for MPs, Senators, Governors and other elected county officials would only be increased if the economy improves.

The State House meeting lasted for about four hours and President Uhuru sought to pacify the governors, even promising that their demands on pay and the power struggles with the respective county commissioners would be addressed.

And in a statement sent to newsrooms by the Presidential Press Service, Uhuru noted: “Just as I said during my inauguration, devolution is not a choice, but our civic duty to ensure we support it to the fullest. It is our responsibility to support devolution as stipulated in the Constitution, a Constitution we swore to protect and defend.”

Uhuru assured the governors that his administration has a clear focus on devolution and what it means to the people of Kenya.

“That is why the first meeting we are having with any elected representatives is with you as a sign of our commitment to devolution,” added Uhuru.

Work as a team

He urged the governors to work with him in ensuring that the Kenyan dream of bringing the government closer to the people and making it more accountable is realised.

“Let us please work together so that we ensure we deliver to the people of this republic. Let us not be seen as if we are not working together,” said President Uhuru.

Noting that there would be teething problems, the Head of State said the hiccups should not be interpreted as attempts to derail devolution.

“Let us understand that we will have problems but we are committed to working together in resolving those problems and ensuring devolution succeeds,” he said.

Uhuru encouraged the governors not to wait until things go wrong for them to meet him and his deputy, but rather call for meetings whenever necessary.

The meeting followed an earlier one that the President held with Serem’s team at the same venue, according to an earlier post on his official Twitter wall stating that he was hosting the salaries team.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said Uhuru invited them for a ‘regular meeting’ where the new President and his Deputy would share their commitment to devolution.

“It is possible that the Salaries Commission was meeting the President at a different meeting,” said Kidero who confirmed that President Uhuru was receptive to a request by the governors that central Government acknowledge their status as the most senior officials in the counties.

They want the SRC to increase salary from the proposed Sh640,681.

The salaries body had said that it was unlikely to meet the governors immediately because of its tight diary.

“We learnt of the planned meeting with governors from the media,” said SRC spokesman Ali Chege, adding that any petitions to be heard require formal communication.

All the 47 governors travelled to Nairobi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Uhuru on Tuesday, with the anticipation of meeting Serem on Wednesday.

Last week the governors ejected the commission’s Deputy Chairman Daniel Ogutu from presenting a paper on salaries and remuneration under the devolved government structure, insisting that only Ms Serem should address them.

The SRC, which has come under intense pressure from the political class, including members of the National Assembly and county representatives, has stood firm by its recommendations, saying that the formulation considered size of the public wage bill.

“Petitions are welcome but the recommendations put forward by the commission are in view of the size of the economy and the resultant wage bill,” said Mr Chege.