Senators to chair county boards with governors as deputies

The Senate Wednesday backed changes to a Bill that would make them chairs of county development boards.

The changes were recommended by a mediation team set up to reach agreement between the Senate and the National Assembly on some clauses in County Government Amendment Bill 2014 that emanated from the Senate.

The report, which is to be approved today, makes governors' deputy chairs of county development boards.

The initial Bill had designated governors as board secretaries, a provision rejected by Members of the National Assembly who argued that by so doing, governors would be ceding their constitutional authority as chief executives of the counties to senators.

The MPs won a concession that excluded nominated senators and MPs from the membership of the boards.

Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang'ula said the senators' desire to chair the committees was informed by their constitutional mandate of oversight over county governments.

He said some governors were appropriating funds for functions that belong to the national government.

"At the operationalisation of the Bill, there may arise fundamental hitches that might require the participation of the senators. Some governors are using the county monies for executive functions that are supposed to be done by the national government, such as the purchase of police vehicles. How does he account for that money? he asked.

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi said the amendments proposed by the mediation committee would give senators a say in the running of the counties, and ensure governors spend on the correct projects.

"This motion touches on the very heart of the Senate. There is a possibility of a senator being alienated and treated as a stranger in the very county he represents. The Bill creates a link between the Senate and the county government," he told the House.

The initial Bill, together with the Division of Revenue Bill, also sent to the mediation committee, had opened room for power tussles between the two Houses of Parliament. 

When the report was tabled at the National Assemby, Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga defended the move to allow senators chair the boards.