By Patrick Beja

Local Authorities are proposing to be allowed to manage public primary schools.

The councils’ bosses have mandated the Association of Local Authorities of Kenya (Algak) to write to the Committee of Experts seeking to control primary education.

Algak secretary general Hamisi Mboga said local authorities also want to have a say on land.

Speaking in Mombasa after a meeting of council heads, Mr Mboga said local authorities should not be restricted to running nursery schools as proposed. The councillors, however, said they welcomed direct election of mayors.

"Local Authorities want a bigger role in the running of education. We want to run primary if not secondary schools," Mboga said.

Algak Finance and Administration chairman Shadrack Rotich accompanied him.

Mboga said save for a few amendments, Algak had endorsed the Draft. Mboga also said local authorities want a say on land.

The counties proposed should have the leeway to manage and co-ordinate land issues, he said.

"It will be difficult for local authorities to plan without having a say on land. The Draft should have clearly stated how council would have authority over land. The question of trust lands should be addressed," Mboga said.

The councils also want to control tourism.

On devolved governments, they proposed amendments to allow each county government to send a representative to the senate.

"It has been agreed that each county sends a representative to the senate, who can fully represent it," Mboga said.

The council heads issued the statement after they were taken through the Draft by constitutional expert Mutakha Kangu.

The Local Authority bosses spoke days after the Cabinet authorised changes that could radically change the running of councils.

The Cabinet agreed a Bill be published for consideration by Parliament on proposed changes.

Amendments to the Local Government Act, cap 265, is expected to pave way for strengthened administration and financial management of councils. The Bill will also propose the direct election of Mayors and chairmen by the public.

It will propose rationalization of the authorities into viable ones, with a possibility of merging some.

The Draft Constitution has proposed the direct election of the mayors and council chairmen.