By Standard Digital Reporter
BUNGOMA, KENYA: The UDF Party leader Musalia Mudavadi has called on the government to respect the Constitution and enforce the law that allows Governors to oversee County security in order to restore normalcy in security operations in the country.
He asked the government to enforce the law that makes the Governor the chair of County Security Oversight Committee as passed by Parliament. He said Governors should not be left out of security briefings as this goes against the law.
“Governors are the Chief Executive Officers at the County and must be at the centre of security decisions. The Governor is answerable for the well being of the county and cannot be relegated to an observer on security matters”, he said
The former Deputy Prime Minister who addressed mourners at the burial of Stephen Barasa Sitati, brother to New Ford Kenya Leader Eugene Wamalwa at Kamukuywa in Bungoma County on Saturday condemned the violence recently witnessed in Bungoma County saying prevailing lack of coordination in security matters could worsen situations.
“If I were President, I will be asking the Governor what they are doing about insecurity when it occurs because Governors have oversight authority”, he said adding that reluctance to launch the County Oversight Security Committee is a mistake.
Mudavadi thanked the electorate from the region who voted for him as a presidential candidate but cautioned the community against dividing their vote.
“You dared me to stand as president and even sung shenywe ni shienywe (our own is ours) and I tried my best. But when the time came to deliver, you split your vote. Now we all have been abandoned kwa mataa (in the desert)”, he said in a light moment amidst laughter from the crowd.
Mudavadi cautioned that the region’s political destiny should not rely on waves from other communities during elections saying “when you escort someone for a bride, don’t expect a share of the bride”.
“We have fallen victim to propaganda that we can only support others for the presidency. How many times are you going to continue donating your votes to others?” he asked.
He said regional block voting had become the norm in elections in Kenya and the western region must learn the lessons of this voting pattern from other communities.
“Let’s not wait to be told by others what to do. There is no time for partisan brinkmanship. I am ready and invite all leaders for us to deliberate and plan the political future of the region”, he said.
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