Senate bill will kill devolution, say Busia MCAs
Busia governor Sospeter Ojaamong unveils the county symbol of authority that included the county flag, seal and coat of arms. He has appealed to the MCAs to join the governors in defending devolution adding that the national government was determined to impede the spirit of devolution. PHOTO/LINET WAFULA.
What you need to know:
- The MCAs said they are opposed to a new intended law that seeks to create a County Development Board chaired by senators and termed this move as an attempt at making governors mere “secretaries”.
- The leaders said the Bill was a violation of the Constitution and asked the legislators not to pass it in its current form.
- Nominated MCA Margaret Chale, cautioned her colleagues on their approach to the issue.
- She said the county assembly should let the county chiefs sort out their own mess.
Busia Members of County Assembly have opposed a bill by the Senate that seeks to strip governors of power.
They say this is an attempt to kill devolution.
The MCAs said they are opposed to a new intended law that seeks to create a County Development Board chaired by senators and termed this move as an attempt at making governors mere “secretaries”.
The leaders said the Bill was a violation of the Constitution and asked the legislators not to pass it in its current form saying it was likely to create conflicts between senators and governors. This, they said, would hinder the development agenda in the counties.
Bukhayo West County Representative, Florence Opemi, who was standing in for the assembly’s majority leader, initiated the debate after Busia Governor, Sospeter Ojaamong, addressed the assembly and said there was a plot by senators to kill devolution.
DEVOLVED SYSTEM
Ms Opemi said the war was not directed at the governors alone but the entire devolved system and asked the members to find ways to support the governors.
Minority leader Moses Mamai said it was purely the work of the governors to fully oversee the implementation of development projects in the counties and not the senators.
He stated that making governors to be secretaries to the proposed board was a way of intimidating the county leaders.
“We cannot allow our duly elected governors to be mere board secretaries as doing that amounts to intimidating county leaders. The move is purely malicious and aimed at killing devolution,” said Mr Mamai.
SENATORS FORGOT ROLES
Ang’urai North MCA Maurice Chetambe said senators had forgotten their roles as protectors of devolution and were now out to kill the new units. He called upon the 47 counties to fight the new move by the legislators.
Nominated MCA Margaret Chale, cautioned her colleagues on their approach to the issue.
She stated the wars were not directly affecting the county assembly and they should let the county chiefs to sort out their own mess.
Last week, while addressing the County Assembly, Governor Ojaamong appealed to the MCAs to join the governors in defending devolution adding that the national government was determined to impede the spirit of devolution.
“The governments at national and county levels are distinct and interdependent. They require conduct their affairs on the basis of consultation and co-operation,” read his speech in part.
