Group says draft neglects livestock

By Ramadhan Rajab and Ngumbao Kithi

The Council of Veterinary Services has called on retention of veterinary services under the current structures, in the new constitution.

The association, in their comments to the Committee of Experts, said proposal in the Harmonised Draft Constitution to have regional county governments run veterinary services, would deter growth in livestock industry.

Christopher Wanga, the council chairman, said decentralising its operations, would break linkages making it hard to control diseases.

Dr Wanga said as proposed in the draft, there is disconnect that will sacrifice food safety.

"If we leave it as it is, we are saying goodbye to trading in livestock products globally," he said, adding; "this is an ingredient to bridging of the international standards."

He further said with the devolved system, disaster management and disease control would be difficult, due to incapacity in many counties.

He faulted the draft for neglecting protection of livestock.

Spread powers

Meanwhile, the devolved Government would spread powers and services from Nairobi to villages, lawyer PLO Lumumba has said.

" The draft constitution will ensure governance comes directly to the people and this is what we have been demanding," said Dr Lumumba.

He spoke to the Press during the launch of the public speaking training centre at a hotel in Mombasa.

"I praise the media for coming up with series of the draft in the daily papers and accommodating suggestions that can help people make stories," he said.

Lumumba appealed to Kenyans to spend their time and read the document. On the issues of powers of the President, Lumumba said with a devolved Government, the powers would be exercised by the local Kenyans and called on individuals to give suggestions and accept the document.