Governors in plans to alter Constitution

By PATRICK BEJA

KENYA: In a move likely to attract confrontation between the central government and the county governments, governors have announced a road map to facilitate a referendum to pave way for constitutional amendments.

The governors want the Constitution changed to allow them source and raise revenues for their county governments.

“We will start the process for a national referendum to amend the relevant articles of the Constitution,” said Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto who read a joint statement statement on behalf of the Governors’ Council yesterday.

In the road map that kicks off next month with a series of rallies countrywide, the governors intend to amendment various articles in the Constitution to compel the National Government to allocate 40 per cent of the annual national revenue to the devolved units from the current 15 per cent.

On Thursday, the governors said their crusade for additional money is aimed at capturing the wishes of Kenyans for development and to fund 70 per cent of the devolved functions.

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The governors want bursaries and infrastructure maintenance and development for primary and secondary schools to be devolved to the counties.

They also want all devolved funds to youth and women to come through the county governments for job creation and development.

“The management of the funds will be headed by women and youth,” the governors said.

In the statement signed by 39 governors, the referendum process will start with countrywide public rallies.

Public rallies

“We are going to hold a series of public rallies on the referendum throughout the country from August 31. We will announce the venue of the first rally soon,” said Mr Rutto.

Mr Rutto explained that the rallies will focus on peace, security and development.

After a two-hour meeting held on the sideshows of the ongoing National Land Commission retreat in Mombasa, the governors are also seeking constitutional amendment to strengthen the Senate.

They called for enhanced unity of the country to ensure there was no sectarian division in Kenya.

The governors said they were determined to fight poverty and unemployment and ensure accountability and public participation in running the counties.

The governors said all laws must be subject to the Constitution and should not go against devolution.