Governors walk out of Naivasha meeting

By Antony Gitonga             

Naivasha, Kenya: The induction workshop for governors and their deputies kicked off on the wrong footing with the elected leaders walking out on the Transitional Authority.

Drama unfolded at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha where the meeting was going on as the irate leaders staged a protest.

The incident occured barely an hour after President Mwai Kibaki had left the hotel after opening the high level meeting.

Earlier, a group of governors tried to meet the Head of State to express their worries and their problems facing them.

Later they headed into a closed door meeting with the authority chairman and his CIC colleague over the impasse.

One of the governors was overheard complaining over the manner in which the authority was treating them noting that they should be accorded the respect they deserve.

Confirming the impasse, Machakos County governor Alfred Mutua said that there was no way they could work without funds.

He said that majority of them had been forced to use their personal vehicles and pay their drivers and security officers as there were no funds.

The former government spokesman noted that despite getting assurance from treasury of getting funds, the promise was yet to be fulfilled.

Flags

On the issue of the National flag, the governors in unison said that they would ignore the directive from the AG and fly the flag on their vehicles.

“We shall not be cowed by the directive and we wonder why judges and ambassadors have not been arrested for flouting this new law,” he said.

Ealier while opening the workshop, Kibaki had warned the governors from bickering over petty issues and instead embark on serving their counties to which they were elected to serve.

Kibaki said the public had high expectation on the newly elected leaders adding that they should begin the journey of transforming their regions without delay.

He called on all Kenyans to render the necessary support to newly elected leaders as one way of creating employment and economic growth.

“You have a limited time to serve the people and you should not let the trappings of power overwhelm you,” said KIbaki.

On his part Finance Minister Njeru Githae urged the governors to help reduce poverty on a sustainable basis.

“You should strive to ensure that the resources are equitably shared and I promise you that the treasure will always be there to support you,” he said.

He reiterated the need for the officers to work closely with other government officers at the county level show good leadership skills and help foster national unity.

Senate speaker Ekwe Ethuro said that the senate will be ready to pass the necessary legislative laws that would enable counties perform their duties better.

“We are ready to begin the work of drafting the laws required to ensure that you carry out your work without difficulties,” he told the governors.

The chair of the Transition Authority Kinuthia Wamwangi on his part said the officers sent to the counties on an interim basis should help the governors start their work easily.

“I call on all of you to cooperate with these officers as you start the journey of working in the counties you were elected in”.

Danish ambassador to Kenya Geert Andersen said his government would continue to partner with Kenya in order to achieve the desired results in the devolution process.