Punguza Mizigo gets nod

Thirdway Alliance Party Leader Dr Ekuru Aukot (centre) and Embu Speaker Josiah Thiriku (left) the County Assembly of Embu where Aukot explained to an open forum of MCAs and members of the public the proposal to amend the Constitution through The ‘Punguza Mizigo’ Constitutional Amendment Bill. July 30, 2019. [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]

Residents and ward representatives have welcomed the proposed Punguza Mizigo (constitutional amendment) Bill that seeks to reduce representation and boost infrastructure.

They made their stand known when Third Way Alliance Party Leader Ekuru Aukot led the Punguza Mizigo architects to unpack the Bill’s contents for the MCAs and the public.

Aukot said the Bill aimed at devolving at least Sh200 million to every ward.

“With enough cash to construct good roads, hospitals, schools and increase access to clean water, a cow could stand for presidency and not get electorate worried about service delivery,” said Aukot

He condemned “over-representation, which has not translated to better service delivery”.

Speaker Josiah Thiriku supported the proposed Bill and urged Kenyans to interrogate their appetite for representation versus the need for better services, and so did most members of the public The Standard spoke to. Assembly Clerk Jim Kauma lauded the Third Way Alliance for “attempting to address the problems bedeviling Kenya.”

Third Way Alliance Chairman Miruru Waweru supported the proposal to have a one term seven-year presidency, saying incumbency in 1997, 2007 and 2017 had bred election-related violence as individuals clung to power.