Jubilee governors divided over proposed referendum

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Ngon’go when the Senate Committee on Devolution met him (Joho) in Mombasa on Thursday. [Photo: Maarufu Mohammed/ Standard]

By Standard Team

Kenya: A split among Jubilee governors is the latest blow to the coalition’s drive against a referendum on devolution, a Standard survey reveals today.

The rebellion by many of the ruling coalition’s 23 governors gives the opposition-backed pro-referendum lobby a clear majority in what promises to be a bruising battle ahead.

This emerged during interviews by The Standard with 32 governors, which revealed a majority in favour of the referendum to scale up fi nancial allocations to counties and strengthening the Senate. 

Governors allied to President Kenyatta’s TNA have abandoned the campaign but county chiefs from Deputy President William Ruto’s URP vowed to soldier on.

Of the 23 governors allied to Jubilee, 11 belong to URP. TNA has eight while Kanu, APK, GNU and UDF have one each.

The referendum this week won the backing of the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) led by Kenyatta’s main challenger in the presidential election in March. The coalition has 24 governors.

During our interviews with 32, eight governors from central Kenya opposed the referendum call.

We were unable to interview the other 15 governors because some were either with President Kenyatta in China, out of reach or declined to respond to our inquiries.

Governors from URP zones including Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi and Bomet defied the Government to back referendum.

Yesterday, the chairman of the Governor’s Council Isaac Ruto insisted the government’s promise to scale up the revenue allocation to counties to 40 per cent must be anchored in law.

“We will be asking Kenyans in the referendum to vote for strengthening of the Senate so as to protect devolution in the country. That is our number one agenda as governors,” said Ruto.

The Bomet governor is a fierce proponent of the referendum and has angered URP MPs who have threatened to have him expelled from the party.

Ruto said the second agenda in the referendum would be to increase allocations to counties from the current minimum 15 per cent to 45 per cent of the total audited national revenue.

Elgeyo/Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos said the push for the referendum is meant to strengthen the Senate that had been undermined by the National Assembly.

Mr Simon Kachapin, the West Pokot Governor, backed calls for referendum highlighting the need to increase revenue allocations to counties to 45 per cent.

Kachapin added that public expectations of the county governments could not be met with the current revenue allocations.

Those who opposed the proposed constitutional change are Governors from Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Laikipia, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi and Nakuru all elected under Uhuru’s TNA.

Idea politicised

Tana River’s Hussein Dado broke ranks with his CORD colleagues to oppose the campaign.

“The idea of a referendum to increase revenue allocation to the counties was initially noble but it was later politicised and that is why I do not support it,” explained Dado, who was elected on a Wiper ticket, an affiliate of CORD.

But governors from North Rift who were elected on URP ticket have defied the Government and are backing the planned referendum.

Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo/Marakwet and Nandi county chiefs said they would not back down. The Governors of Baringo and West Pokot also said they would not relent on the campaign.

Ruto said they were not bothered by the withdrawal from the campaign by Jubilee senators.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, vice chairman of the Council of Governors, reiterated his support for the referendum.

“We the Council of Governors had resolved that counties should be given more funds. That can only be done if the Constitution is changed, there is no other way about it,” said Kidero who is travelling with Kenyatta in China.

But governors from the president’s party intimated they had abandoned the cause altogether, citing other forces had hijacked the noble campaign, costs and the Government pledge to address their grievances.

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua (GNU) said there was no immediate need for a plebiscite since the government was willing to listen to their proposals.

Vote premature

Laikipia’s Joshua Irungu said it was premature to hold another divisive political contest.

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria said although the county governments want money to promote development programmes, they are opposed to the agenda being politicised.

Kirinyaga’s Joseph Ndathi said he had abandoned the crusade “after the move was hijacked by CORD who have ulterior motives.”

“When a child asks his father for bread and the bread is given, then the child can not cry again,” he said.

Embu Governor Martin Wambora said a plebiscite would be costly and the grievances can be addressed through other channels.

Tharaka Nithi’s Samuel Ragwa said although the intentions were good, the timing was bad coming soon after a general election.

Three governors of western Kenya’s four counties supported calls for a referendum.

Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Sospeter Ojaamong’ (Busia), Moses Akaranga (Vihiga) and Kakamega’s Wycliffe Oparanya declared their unequivocal support for the constitutional amendment.

Bungoma County’s Kenneth Lusaka, who accompanied Kenyatta for an official visit to China, said the referendum had been hijacked for partisan political interests, blurring the original intent of the push.

But Oparanya said: “I am ready and willing to mobilise the requisite one million signatures to have the referendum that will strengthen devolution.”

Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok said: “If we want to end the problems that have plagued this country we need to be serious and allocate enough monies to the counties.”

Baringo’s Benjamin Cheboi said: “The need for a referendum to strengthen devolution should not be confused with other issues.”

Mombasa’s Ali Hassan Joho said: “As a member of the governors’ council I fully support.”

Kwale’s Salim Mvurya also backed the campaign. Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and his Machakos counterpart Alfred Mutua backed the need to allocate more resources for devolution.

“Yes, I support the idea. I do believe the 15 per cent the county governments were receiving is inadequate,” said Mutua.

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, Governor James Ongwae (Kisii), and Migori’s Okoth Obado said they would press on with the campaign.

Marsabit’s Ukur Yattani said: “What can we do with Sh3.6 billion? We are spending almost the entire amount on paying salaries.”

Garissa Governor Nathif Adam said the county supported Governor’s Council position.