Governors shun meetings called by senators

What you need to know:

  • Only a third of the 47 governors showed up although they are the ones who had asked for the meetings to decide on the most vital functions to be devolved
  • Governors had appealed to the Senate to transfer some functions including rural electrification, roads maintenance and storage of agriculture produce to counties

Governors skipped meetings called by the Senate to evaluate functions to be transferred to counties, a report prepared by senators show.

The senators were forced to hold meetings with junior county officials after governors opted out in favour of other assignments.

Only a third of the 47 governors showed up although they are the ones who had asked for the meetings to decide on the most vital functions to be devolved.

In a report tabled in the Senate on the transfer of functions to counties, the lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the county bosses treated the meetings held countrywide.

“It is a pity that only 17 or so governors personally attended to this very important matter leaving out about 30 who never came. In western, apart from Mr Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) who came personally, others sent their deputies,” said Busia Senator Amos Wako.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Devolved Government Kipchumba Murkomen, also Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator, said the legislators were unhappy because governors were pushing them to transfer certain functions in funerals and village barazas yet they refused to attend formal meetings to address the same.

“Governors wanted some functions to be devolved and the Senate asked them to present their issues and to put them in black and white yet they felt that they were too superior to appear before the Senate. The issue of seniority should be trashed,” said Kajiado Senator Peter Mositet.

Governors had appealed to the Senate to transfer some functions including rural electrification, roads maintenance and storage of agriculture produce to counties. The senators and governors have been locked in supremacy battles since last year.