Leaders fault Executive for snubbing devolution forum

By Roselyne Obala and Tobias Chanji

Kwale, Kenya: Devolution stakeholders attending the inaugural governors’ conference in Kwale County have faulted the Executive, Parliament and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga for snubbing the ongoing event.

The governors, constitutional commissions, independent offices, deputy governors, county speakers and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) attending the Kwale conference expressed concern over the conduct of the Executive, saying it poses a threat to devolution.

Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae fired the first salvo when he questioned why the Executive gave a wide berth to the conference.

Mr Nyachae raised the red flag after he assumed the role of chief guest at the event, after the Executive, Speakers Ekwee Ethuro (Senate) and Justin Muturi (National Assembly), Dr Mutunga and Attorney General Githu Muigai, initially programmed to grace the opening session, failed to turn up.

Others who failed to turn up for yesterday’s session included Cabinet secretaries Ann Waiguru (Devolution) James Macharia (Health), Adan Mohammed (Industrialisation), Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs) and Henry Rotich (National Treasury).

Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Peter Mositet (Kajiado), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Amos Wako (Busia), Mohammed Kuti (Wajir) and Billow Kerrow (Mandera) also did not show up.

Chief guest

Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Isaac Ruto urged Nyachae to step in as the chief guest after other top officials invited indicated that they had other engagements.

The participants went up in cheers in agreement with Nyachae that the National Government should not have skipped the meeting.

“I don’t know why the National Government is not represented. I don’t know if the problem is with the organisers or the Government itself,” said Nyachae.

He noted that although President Uhuru Kenyatta has been on record several times making commitments to support devolution, it should go beyond the words.

The Bomet Governor challenged the Government to walk the talk.

CoG secretary general Ken Lusaka said they were surprised that even Devolution Cabinet Secretary chose not to attend the conference.

The Bungoma Governor argued that may be the Executive decided to skip the event following the President’s remark that it was a waste of public resources.

Busia County Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said “it is myopic to rubbish such an event funded by well-wishers involved in devolution”.

He took a swipe at senators who termed the conference a waste of public resources.

Ruto stressed that the conference had given stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on success of the devolved system of governance and commit themselves to the devolution promise.