Raila vows to push for referendum

By NAFTAL MAKORI

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders have intensified calls for a referendum to increase funding to the 47 county governments.

Speaking during the homecoming for North Mugirango MP Charles Mong’are Geni, at Nyamusi Primary School grounds yesterday, over 20 CORD legislators vowed to support a referendum to give counties at least 45 per cent of total national revenue.

Led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the leaders accused the Jubilee administration of targeting senior public servants from CORD strongholds by expunging them from plum state jobs. Mr Odinga defended the push for referendum arguing Kenyans had agreed to pass a constitution with defects in 2010 so that it can be amended.

He said the constitution stipulates that counties should receive at least 15 per cent of national revenue but it was silent on the maximum amount the counties can receive.

“We want 40 per cent to go to counties so that devolution can work otherwise governors would end up spending the chunk of the resources on paying salaries and recurrent expenditure,” he said.

The former PM said the provincial administration had not been restructured as per the constitution but instead renamed.

He said the counties risk having parallel administrative system which is “a recipe for chaos”.

“By so saying, it does not mean anybody would be sacked. I will avoid parallel system of government and that is why we are calling to a referendum and this should not be construed as a threat to destabilise government,” Raila said.

Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo said public servants presumed to have supported CORD in the past election were being sacked.

“The country is for all Kenyans and there must be a fair distribution of all resources including personnel,” said Midiwo.

Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire said the Cabinet is largely dominated by individuals from two communities thus flouting the constitutional requirement.