Tribalism: Counties face legal suit
Transition Authority chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi at a past event. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL |
What you need to know:
- Senators say authority struggling to assert itself in devolved structure.
- Transition Authority will take to court governors who have refused to employ doctors because they come from ‘wrong tribes’.
The Transition Authority has promised to sue county governments that have refused to employ doctors because of their ethnic origins.
Authority chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi on Saturday said they would go to court to seek legal action against counties reported to have rejected qualified doctors because of their tribes.
“We will be going to court next week to defend the people who have been asked not to work in the counties. This is not what devolution is all about. We want people to appreciate each as a united country,” he said.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union raised the alarm that some counties had rejected doctors because they come from “wrong tribes” while those hired were given a lower salary.
The authority held a two-day retreat with senators from Friday in Mombasa to brief the lawmakers on the extent of transition into the devolution system.
The senators said the authority was struggling to assert itself in devolution. “Sectors like health and roads do not have policies to guide transition. We are still groping in the dark in the transfer of some roads and health functions because of lack of policies,” said Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.
Nominated Senator Ben Njoroge told the authority to be more active.
“The authority does not seem to be energetic enough to do its work. Why should we give you more time when it seems you are not doing your work?” asked Mr Njoroge.
Participants praised devolution saying opponents of the system were trying to paint a grim picture to make Kenyans lose hope.
Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki said the threat to devolution came from the beneficiaries of the former system.
“It is time to come out and be counted. It is a decision on whether we want an unequal society or a more united one,” said Prof Kindiki.
Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro said the institution will look for adequate resources to help transition authority undertake civic education on the benefits of devolution.
“We have approached various donors and we expect them to give us some funds which we will share,” he said.
