Kenya: The Chairman of Council of Governors Isaac Rutto, has warned Jubilee government that it will have it rough in the next General Election if it scuttles devolution.
The Bomet governor accused the Jubilee government of declining to devolve more funds to county governments, a situation which he described as an obstacle to operations of county governments.
Acid test
Speaking in Homa Bay town when he presided over the official closure of the 13th General Assembly of Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities and Counties Co-operation (LVRLACC), Rutto said the funds so far disbursed to the counties are not enough.
“I have heard some people saying that they have given a lot of money to county governments, hence, we should use what they have given us instead of asking for more. I want to tell the Jubilee government that they have not given us any money that can develop our counties,” he said.
He argued that refusing to devolve more funds to counties was tantamount to stifling devolution; a situation he predicted that will give the Jubilee Government a big blow come the end of its current term.
He regretted that Jubilee leadership had promised never to meddle in devolution matters, but as things are voters stand cheated.
“Devolution is going to be the acid test for performance of the Jubilee government, and I want to tell them they will have nothing to tell Kenyans at the end of their term if devolution fails in this country,” he warned.
He told President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, to stop thinking that devolving more funds to the county governments will threaten the government.
Deaf ears
“The Constitution accords power to the people, but the government continues to turn deaf ears to needs of the people. Every Kenyan needs to live dignified life regardless of the counties where they come from, but this can only take place if the government devolves more funds to empower the people of our counties,” he added.
He vowed that ‘Pesa Mashinani’ and ‘Okoa Kenya’ campaigns would work together because they have a common goal of improving livelihood of Kenyans.
Rutto warned leaders in Kenya to avoid tribalism and politics when it comes to deliberating on issues affecting citizens.
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