Ruto faces rejection in Rift Valley for opposing Pesa Mashinani push

Uasin Gishu County governor Jackson Mandago (second left) County Commissioner Abdi Hassan (centre) and area senior county chief security agencies salute the parade during Madaraka Day celebration at 64 Stadium in Eldoret recently. The officers have warned cartels doing petroleum products to stop or be arrest. 14.12.2014. Picture By Peter Ochieng/STANDARD]

(Elgeyo Marakwet) and Cleophas Lagat (Nandi) voiced concerns about the issue that dominated some of their speeches during Monday's Madaraka Day celebrations.

Mr Mandago had earlier spoken about resorting to the Pesa Mashinani campaign, citing frustrating budgetary allocations to sectors like agriculture that are dear to the region.

The recent public backlash, due to shortage of subsidised fertiliser and delay to buy maize from farmers, has prompted a revolt from the region.

President Uhuru Kenyatta-led administration, Mandago said, should give more emphasis to the agriculture docket, failure to which they would demand more cash through referendum.

"If you want us to work together, you should set aside funds for maize acquisition from farmers, fertiliser and seeds because it reaches a time when things become hard to the extent that we have nothing to fear but to only support Pesa Mashinani for more funds," Mandago said on Saturday to applause from mourners at a funeral in Kuinet Village in his county.

He added: "It is clear that if the farmers' issues are not addressed through provision of adequate funding, I will drive the Pesa Mashinani campaigns as well."

No allocation

That there is no allocation for purchase of maize for the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) in the national budget estimates to be tabled in the National Assembly tomorrow has not gone down well.

And Kachapin, while addressing residents during Madaraka Day celebrations, took issue with the National Assembly for frustrating the Division of Revenue Bill that proposes counties receive Sh3.3 billion more to raise their allocation for the next financial year to Sh287 billion.

He warned that governors would not hesitate to press for the referendum to ring-fence higher allocations, instead of being left at the mercy of MPs.

"West Pokot has in the past been marginalised in the previous regimes. It is high time we fought for more cash so that we can provide services needed to the public," he said.

Ruto and Chepkwony have been steadfast in their campaigns for the referendum that have seen them lock horns with Deputy President.

The DP is opposed to the plebiscite push, which Bomet governor had said will likely join forces with the CORD's Okoa Kenya referendum initiative.

Mandago said if the referendum is passed, they would get 45 per cent of the total national revenue from the latest audited accounts of the Government transferred to the counties, which will in turn boost development.

"President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto should know that things are not well. They do not have to move around seeking for additional votes and assume that the ones in the region will always be solid. They should heed to our call if they want the public to stop complaining," he said.

Khaemba insisted that the national government should also transfer to the county government functions that are still duplicated at the national level for effective service delivery.

He lamented that departments of the national government still carry out functions that ought to be performed by county governments.

"The government allocates a lot of money to State corporations and starve county governments of funds to operate on when, in essence, the roles are duplicated," said Khaemba.

He pointed out that governors will not insist on the "Pesa Mashinani" referendum if the Government agrees to increase the share of national revenue for the counties.

"The need and desire for more money at grassroots is unstoppable only the referendum call is timely and can only be averted if the national gives the counties more money," said Khaemba

He noted that there was a lot of money channelled to ministries and corporations such as the Lake Basin Development Authority when they perform similar functions as those carried out by counties.

Khaemba further dared the national government to revert health and agricultural functions to the national government, saying governors would not sit back and watch it happen.

"We have seen Parliament pass bills seeking to revert health and agriculture functions to the national government, and we have agreed that if they do so, we shall seek court interpretation of the Constitution," he said.

Lagat, together with his entire Members of County Assembly, launched his push for a referendum on Pesa Mashinani saying it was the only way to sustain devolution.

Lagat who had intimated that he was not scared by his stand that was seemingly against that of his Jubilee Coalition government in which he is a member, later abandoned the push.

"We are in the Government that we voted in and we will continue to support the Jubilee coalition, but we want more money to the grassroots to initiate development," said Lagat.

Quality services

In a terse statement declaring his support for Pesa Mashinani, he said: "I am not a civil servant to be intimidated by calls to resign. I was elected by Nandi residents and what we are calling for is adequate funds for delivery of quality services."

Tolgos said that in as much there was need for increased funds, he thought the Pesa Mashinani would heighten the political temperatures thus not allowing the counties concentrate on development.

"We indeed need more cash, particularly in my county where I receive less. But the problem is that the politics that will mar the referendum push will even spiral to 2017. We should continue to engaging the national government," said Tolgos.