We will not bow for you, Governor Samuel Ragwa tells senators

Tharaka Nithi, Kenya: Tharaka Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa has termed the President’s move to have senators head county boards as unconstitutional and meant to frustrate devolution.

He said senators were voted in as ambassadors of the counties and their duties should be looking for more resources for the counties.

“When we campaigned and went to the polls, there was nothing like governors becoming secretaries to the senators neither did the residents of my county vote for such a thing,” said the governor.

Addressing the press at his office in Chiakariga, Ragwa accused senators of failing to fulfill what they were voted in for and instead playing a part in killing devolution which is meant to trickle down service delivery to the grassroots.

“These senators have become like an old man who educates his son and sends him off to the world to look for more only for the son to come back and insist on sharing the only one acre piece of land the old man has,” added Mr Ragwa.

Ragwa said governors had no problem being checked for transparency and accountability in county funds usage but said the county assembly and the residents of the counties do that through public participation.

“If they think we shall bow down for senators to head county boards and governors to be subject and accountable to them, they have another think coming,” he added.

He  said a referendum was the only way for Kenyans to decide if they really wanted these changes in the constitution.

Ragwa, who is a member of the Governor's Council, said they were in full support of Isaac Ruto, their chairman and asked the residents of Tharaka Nithi not to support this move since it’s meant to "snatch food that was already on their lips" in terms of development.

“We have already begun harvesting the fruits of devolution, look at the most interior roads and health centres. You cannot say the government has not been felt since counties came in,” he said.