Governors to launch referendum drive in Bomet

The Council of Governors will Saturday launch the ‘Pesa Mashinani campaign’ in Bomet County amid claims that Governor Isaac Rutto was using public resources to mobilise residents to attend the meeting.

Members of the Bomet County Assembly said they were opposed to use of county vehicles and funds to mobilise residents to attend the meeting scheduled for Bomet Green Stadium.

According to MCAs led by Julius Korir of Kembu Ward, the governor’s office has instructed county officials to allocate vehicles and an unspecified amount of cash for mobilise the public.

“It is unacceptable for the governor to have vehicles allocated to ferry residents from the villages to Bomet town to attend a function that has little importance,” said Korir.

At least seven ward representatives from the region said they are opposed to the launch of the CoG referendum campaign, saying it was the governor who was making it look like the entire county supported the popular vote.

Sigor Ward representative Sammy Kipsiele, said any county official who will sanction the use of county vehicles or allocate any resources towards the the launch will be held personally accountable.

“Pesa Mashinani is not a function of the Bomet County Government and those who will use county resources for the same should be prepared for the consequences,” said Kipsiele.

CoG is expected to kick off collection of more than one million signatures to push for the referendum aimed at raising the amount of revenue allocated to counties to 43 per cent.

But Governor Rutto has denied giving instruction to his officers to use county resources to mobilise residents saying County Financial Management regulations would not allow him to do so.