Senator accuses CORD of plot to derail development

By Fred Kibor and Renson Buluma

KENYA: A Jubilee senator has accused CORD luminaries of hypocrisy and waging a political vendetta against the Government disguised as a national referendum.

Elgeyo/Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said CORD had used the call for a referendum to advance their political agenda and derail development. “We learnt that some of our political opponents were publicly plotting for the downfall of the Jubilee government through the referendum,” said Murkomen who is the senate committee chairman on devolution.

Murkomen and other Jubilee senators hitherto had been at the forefront in championing for a referendum that will empower the Senate and increase funding to the counties.

An opinion poll, he added, conducted among the Jubilee senators found out that apparently the mission for a referendum is an exercise in futility since it is expensive and also the country has just emerged from a rigorous election.

Ignore politicians

At the same time, two legislators allied to Jubilee in Busia County have urged the electorate to ignore politicians and civil society groups who are pressing for a referendum.

Teso South MP Mary Emasse (URP) and Nambale’s John Bunyasi (UDF) said at the weekend that calls for a referendum, a few months after a general election were unnecessary and pre-mature.

The two however noted that their stand to oppose the referendum should not be construed as efforts to suppress devolution. “It is not possible to agree on everything but it is important to give the Government time to implement the Constitution.”

Emasse expressed optimism that devolved structures will be fully operational within the next months and allow devolved functions operate smoothly hence help increase allocation for the county governments.