Governors maintain they won't relent on push for referendum

It is still not clear whether the Council of Governors is willing to merge its Pesa Mashinani initiative with the Opposition’s Okoa Kenya drive.

At a homecoming for Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma in Nyando constituency yesterday, members of the Opposition rallied the governors to have them form a single force to push the referendum agenda. However, the governors at the event, including former CoG Chairman Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Ranguma, remained non-committal, but said they would go on with the push to have more money devolved to counties.

“The Jubilee government should actualise devolution as stated in the Constitution. As governors, we will not relent in our Pesa Mashinani push,” said Ruto. Butere MP Andrew Toboso maintained the two initiatives should be merged to make it a strong force. “Okoa Kenya and Pesa Mashinani initiatives want a referendum to protect devolution. Governors should, therefore, accept to work with CORD to push the agenda,” he said.

CORD leader Raila Odinga, who was to be chief guest did not attend but was represented by Oparanya. Last month, Raila held talks with Ruto at a Nairobi hotel, when the latter was still the CoG Chairman in an attempt to merge Okoa Kenya campaign and Pesa Mashinani initiative, both of which seek constitutional amendments.

The two parties had given earlier indications of their willingness to work together, but speaking during the event yesterday, Ruto did not disclose whether the plan was still on. But it is emerging that some CORD MPs are skeptical whether Peter Munya, the new CoG leadership will “co-operate” with the Opposition like the previous regime in its quest for a referendum.

Nyando MP Fred Outa, who did not attend the event held in his Constituency, said on phone: “The Council of Governors has a new leadership and we as CORD, are not sure whether Munya is willing to take it from where Ruto left.”

Munya had recently indicated that governors would continue the push to have more money devolved to counties, but did not disclose whether they would do it jointly with CORD.

CORD is already trying to reach various county assemblies to woo ward representatives to support the constitutional amendment.

The governors took issue with the controversial Sh38 billion healthcare plan launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta, maintaining they were not consulted.