Bomet governor protests at Bills ‘seeking to kill devolution’

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has dismissed as “anti-devolution” some of the Bills that are set for debate and enactment into law by the National Assembly.

Mr Ruto said the draft laws are meant to reverse the gains made since the adoption of the Constitution, and urged Kenyans to resist such attempts.

“We will not accept plans by the national government to perform functions that had been devolved,” said Mr Ruto.

He spoke at the Segemik Catholic Parish in Chepalungu Sub-County during the closure of a week-long women’s workshop on Saturday.

The governor said there are plans to move the management of the health, infrastructure and land sectors to the national government.

He said the draft laws lined up for debate in Parliament include the Land Community Bill.

“We are urging our MPs to reject some of these retrogressive Bills. They should even extend the period they are required to sit in Parliament so that they can effectively debate the Bills,” he said.

WORK TOGETHER

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso, who also attended the event, called for unity and consultative leadership in the county’s governance. She said tremendous progress would be made in all the sectors if the leaders work together.

Dr Laboso, who is also the Sotik MP, criticised youths who had attempted to block her from gaining entry into the venue. She asked leaders to refrain from inciting the young people into such acts.

“Why is it that when leaders visit Chepalungu Constituency to preside over functions, the local youths attempt to disrupt the events, whereas such incidents are not witnessed elsewhere in the county?” she asked.

“Leaders are at liberty to crisscross the county and even the entire country for development purposes since the Constitution guarantees the freedom of movement and speech,” she said.

Dr Laboso appealed to women and the youth to take advantage of the funds the national government has set aside for them to engage in entrepreneurship.

At the same time, Mr Ruto on Sunday claimed that the National Assembly was planning to pass a law that would prohibit Kenyans who suffered historical injustices from seeking compensation. He said this was among several pieces of legislation set to be passed by August 27.

Mr Ruto asked MPs not to pass the Bills in a hurry in a bid to beat the deadline set in the Constitution.

“The MPs want to pass the most repressive laws in our history. These laws will absolutely retard devolution and set us back at least 30 years. There is no need to pass them in a hurry and put our nation on the guillotine. I suggest they extend the time and check the Bills afresh,” he said.

He spoke during a fund-raiser at Kiptere Boys High School in Kericho County.

This comes at a time Kericho and Bomet county governments plan to sue the British Government for historical land injustices against the Kipsigis and Talai communities during the colonial era.