Graft, security top on the agenda as President Kenyatta, Raila Odinga meet governors

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday led nearly 6,000 delegates to take stock on the gains of devolution and to mark two years since Kenya adopted the system after the March 2013 election.

Both leaders celebrated the gains brought by devolution, including the improvement in health services but lamented the setbacks brought about by corruption.

President Kenyatta — who received a warm welcome in the region considered as Mr Odinga’s political stronghold — said devolution lies at the heart of national transformation.

“Devolution is the single greatest economic and sociopolitical innovation of our constitution,” he told delegates attending the three-day conference being held at the Tom Mboya Hall in Kisumu.

And Mr Odinga said: “Those who voted for or against the Constitution have equal chance to benefit from its fruits. It is the story of Devolution in Kenya.

“We may debate how the counties are being governed. But there can be no doubt that voters want their counties to be supported and strengthened, not wound up or undermined.”

The country’s 47 governors used the forum to highlight the gains of devolution especially on expansion of roads, hospitals and agriculture.

They also made a strong pitch for involvement of county governments in the management of the country’s security.

Mr Odinga also used the forum to ask the President to crack the whip on his security teams, which he said, had failed the President during the Garissa attack which claimed 147 lives.

“Mr President, your people are letting you down. You must crack the whip,” said Mr Odinga. However, Mr Kenyatta did not mention the issue of security, dwelling instead on the steps that the government had taken to strengthen devolution.

“Over the past two years, my government has accelerated the expansion of resource allocation to county governments. In 2013/2014, when my government assumed office, 32 per cent of national revenue was allocated to county governments. In 2014/2015, we allocated 43 per cent.

This will cause profound economic transformation of our rural areas,” he said.

WARNED GOVERNORS

President Kenyatta, who recently directed Cabinet Secretaries and parastatal chiefs to step aside to pave way for investigations into corruption allegations against them, also warned governors against entrenching corruption in counties.

The event brought together all the country’s 47 governors, senators and members or the county assembly.

“I am busy fighting corruption in the national government. I do not wish any governor to ever have that problem on their hands,” he told the gathering. “Let’s make the people of Kenya proud by rejecting corruption and embracing integrity.”

He also defended the government against accusations by the county chiefs that his government was frustrating devolution.

“The conference was a further testimony of the commitment to Article 6 (2) of the Constitution, which enjoins the national and county governments to conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation,” the President said.

Mr Odinga also put members of county assembles on the spot, saying some had abused their positions and engaged in wasteful spending on foreign trips.

He said corruption cartels had commandeered many county governments.

“Some elected leaders have confused their oversight role with execution, pitting county assemblies against county executives,” he said.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, who is also the outgoing chairman of the Council of Governors, pledged the county governments’ support in the fight against corruption.

“I emphasise that corruption must be fought through institutions,” said Mr Ruto. “Our approach to this vice must be done in accordance with the law.”

Mr Ruto said the integrity and rights of individuals must be respected in the quest for zero-tolerance for corruption.

“The first against corruption must be treated with seriousness and must be shielded from personality wars,” he said.

Mr Ruto is among 12 governors who have been adversely mentioned in connection with corruption allegations. Two others, Dr Evans Kidero of Nairobi and Mr Hassan Joho of Mombasa have been questioned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Mr Ekwee Ethuro, the Speaker of the Senate said: “Corruption and impunity are neither devolved functions nor are they national government functions.”

COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said the success of devolution was the collective responsibility of all Kenyans and leaderships in both national and county governments.

She said: “The devolution story has been one and negative. We should stop the stereotypes and suspicion against my ministry to realise that we are all players in this.”

Governors who addressed the gathering said some aspects of security should be devolved.

They particularly asked that the law be amended to make Administration Police officers to report to them.

Led by Tana River governor Hussein Dado, who chairs the Council of Governors Committee on Security, the governors said that their role in ensuring the safety of Kenyans in their respective counties could not be overstated.

“We need the Administration Police under the governors and we can assure you that 70 per cent of the problems of insecurity in the counties will be solved,” said Mr Dado.

“When the county is insecure, the people run to the governor and ask you to do something for them. If we had a command where we control how they get deployed, we will be able to secure our people,” he said.

Senator Haji criticised members of the army for failure to rescue the Garissa attack victims despite the fact that their camp was less than five kilometres.

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua, a former Administration Police Commandant, also said that the laws govern county policing should be changed.

“As it is, even if they were in place, the national policing authorities cannot help us solve these situations we have,” said Mr Mbugua.