‘Save devolution’ Bill on the cards

Governors are drafting a Bill that they will take to the referendum to block any future attempts to weaken devolution.

Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto said a five-member team comprising professionals and constitutional lawyers was preparing the Bill.

Mr Ruto said the option of going with a question to the referendum could only serve as a stop-gap, leaving room for future attacks on devolution.

“The team we have named is looking at the possibility of a Bill and a question. However, we prefer a Bill into which we will enter everything to stop any manoeuvres against devolution. We do not want a question which will mean that once in while, we go back to the referendum,” he said in a telephone interview.

The Bill, he said, would be part of the guidelines to the referendum which will bring all Kenyans on board to ensure that it succeeded.

“The team will prepare the roadmap for the referendum because that is what Kenyans are asking. It will include issues at stake, the timelines, the measures and how to approach it,” he said.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

He was speaking less than a week after President Kenyatta signed into law the County Government (Amendment) Bill which created room for senators and MPs to control initiation and approval of development projects in counties.

Senators will chair the county development boards established by the amendment.

Governors responded with fury, skipping a retreat in Mombasa with senators and vowed to go to the public to annul the amendment which they described as anti-devolution.

On Monday, Mr Ruto warned that the Jubilee administration, through a series of acts, had shown that it was determined to dilute devolution.

“Last year, they persuaded us to withdraw our push for a referendum claiming they needed time in office. There have been no indications of good will from them. Now they have upped the onslaught and are more vicious with propaganda against devolution,” he said.

He listed posting of county commissioners, prohibiting governors from flying flags, creating a summit for deputy governors, and attempts to take over some of their functions such as health and early childhood education as examples of the war against devolution.

“MPs seem determined to claw back on devolution. There are 23 pieces of legislation which do not recognise devolution and this we must stop,” he said.

Mr Ruto pushed the unveiling of the names of the team to Friday, stating that they were yet to agree on the terms of their engagement.

However, he declined to give the names of those appointed, saying that some of them had not yet taken up their acceptance letters from their offices at Delta House in Westlands, Nairobi.

“They are not into a publicity stunt but we could name them on Friday after full consultations,” he said.