SRCs Sarah Serem rejects car grants demand amid boos from MCAs

SRC Sarah Serem at the ongoing second Devolution Conference in Kisumu Thursday. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

KISUMU: Salaries and Remuneration Commission boss Sarah Serem faced hostile Members of County Assemblies in the eye and said no to their car grant demands.

During a session on resources, power and responsibility, MCA's attending the second the second devolution conference in Kisumu Thursday wondered why they were being discriminated in award of car grants. They also demanded mileage for their nominated colleagues.

County ministers also demanded harmonized allowances complaining they had been denied house allowances unlike their bosses and juniors. They wanted allowances harmonized.

But when Serem rose to respond, she held her ground that car grants literary translate to free gifts. She said her commission was of considered view that "free gifts could not be sustained." She said Kenyans themselves rejected it when SRC went round.

"We may like it or not but it is not sustainable for this country. The people rejected it and for us, we are saying we should be able to reach a position where you reject free gifts and look instead into what you can give," she said attracting jeers from the MCA's:

"I am not sure the noise will help. Let's not fight for free gifts," she added. She said the matter of mileage for nominated MCA's was concluded but was held up by an ongoing court cases.

The answers attracted wrath of senator Bony Khalwale who pressed further and asked her why she was creating disharmony by allowing some groups to enjoy car grants and denying same to others.

"In English we say what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. If you cant balance between these demands, you are creating disharmony in the country," Khalwale said.

The fireworks happened as experts, leaders and heads of institutions called on the two levels of governments to cease bickering and deliver to their common denominator- Kenyans.

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo, governance expert Kareithi Murimi, Transitional Authority boss Kinuthia Mwangi and several senators led the calls for ceasefire between the two arms of government. They said the wrangles had stunted the growth of counties.

Odhiambo said disputes between the two had robbed the country "a conducive environment" within which devolution is supposed to take off. She said challenges of capacity, weak internal controls and misunderstanding were costing the counties.

"This year has been difficult in terms of implementation of budget programmes because of wrangles some which have spilled over to the courts," Odhiambo said.

Mwangi, describing himself as the "midwife of the devolution babies" said he does not want to see stunted babies on the account of acrimony. He said Governors as chief executives of counties must be respected. He demanded the same of MCA's and Speakers of the County Assembly.

"MCA's are moving around wagging impeachment cards against Governors and Speakers. They should cease and tear those cards," he pleaded.

Murimi called for more respect for devolution principles and expressed displeasure over disharmony between county and national governments. He said the two forget they serve just one person- Wanjiku. He however rooted for more focus to counties:

"None of us wakes up in a national government. We all wake up in counties and if you do not want counties to grow you do not want your mother to grow."

"The tragedy with us is that we forget that all of us will have grandchildren. And one day they will sit and think what was the problem with us. They will think it was the size of our heads and will exhume us only to find the size is normal. They will then think it is the height but realize it is normal," he said.

Murimi asked skeptics to give county governments a break and critics to declare interests or criticize in good faith: "Sometimes, it is other appetites which are speaking, not genuine criticisms."

PS devolution Mwanamaka Mabruki challenged counties to plan ahead for their budgets. She said counties should undertake procurement while awaiting release of funds by the national government to avoid low absorption of funds.

Senator Hassan Omar said there is way too much ego play and games in implementation of devolution. He called for mutual respect between all interest interests but avowed that those who stand in the wa of devolution will certainly be crushed.

"No organ wants to hurt counties, least of all the Senate," Senator Agnes Zani assured. The Governors and Senators were due to meet last night for a bonding session which Council of Governors chair Isaac Ruto hoped would reduce prospects of the two shouting down at each other.