MCAs accuse governors of isolation

Kenya: The push for a referendum by governors has met sharp criticism from members of county assemblies (MCAs) from across the country who said they were not consulted.

At a meeting between MCAs and governors in Nairobi yesterday, the former accused the county chiefs of working in isolation yet they wanted the support of county assemblies in times of need.

MCAs questioned why governors did not start the referendum push from the grassroots.

Elgeyo Marakwet Minority Leader Benson Kiptiret told governors that some of them had differences with their MCAs.

He said governors’ quest for increased budgetary allocation was not sincere since some of them had been accused of misappropriation of county funds.

“We are not opposed to the referendum and if it should be done, let it be in 2017. Governors should not use us as rubber stamp in their quest for political gains. If they have failed to utilise the funds given, how will they handle more cash?” posed Kiptiret.

Security management

He said the 10-point agenda in which governors want to be involved in security operations in counties and currently being scrutinised by the technical team could be used as a tool to oppress opponents.

Meru Governor Peter Munya lack of consultation in the security operation by the national government had given them a bad name.

“We don’t want to recruit or train the security officers but we need to be involved in the management of security. This is what we want addressed,” reiterated Munya.

Governors had called various leaders from county assemblies, including the majority and minority leaders and chief whips for a consultative forum over issues they want addressed via a referendum.

Nyanza representative in the National County Assembly forum Beauttah Omanga warned that MCAs would on Sunday make a resounding resolution after carefully looking at the issues governors and the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) were raising.

Joint approach

“We will press for a joint approach to all issues being raised by governors and CORD, including our own issues. The MCAs are not stupid fellows who can be used and dumped,” said Omanga.

Nyandarua Majority Leader James Gichuki said they will not endorse the plebiscite, terming the move untimely and an economic nonsense. But Council of Governors Chair Isaac Ruto explained that the list of issues raised by governors was not the final one.

“This referendum is not for governors, MCAs or anyone else. This is a referendum for the people. There is propaganda being peddled by some senators that we failed to account for some money yet the national Government failed to spend Sh300 billion last year,” he said.

Those present were governors Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir) Ali Roba (Marsabit), Okoth Obado (Migori), Peter Munya (Meru), Cleaphas Kiprop (Nandi), and Moses Akaranga (Vihiga), among others. Deputy governors were also in attendance.