MCAs a threat to devolution, warn senators

The ultimatum by MCAs to be given car grants and mortgages will reverse the progress of devolution, TNA politicians have warned.

The politicians said members of County Assemblies had become the enemies of devolution due to the preconditions they give to governors before they pass county budgets.

Senators Martha Wangari and Joy Gwendo said the county assemblies were overstepping their oversight mandate for selfish gains.

Ms Wangari said the threats to governors through impeachment and rejection of Bills were only hurting development in the counties.

“The Senate was once criticised for not supporting devolution yet it increased funds for counties; why don’t we hear critics of MCAs lynching governors over car loans and mortgages?” asked Ms Wangari during a funeral in Kisumu at the weekend.

She said the impeachment threats to governors would slow down development at the grassroots for which devolution was crafted.

Ms Gwendo accused politicians of not passing the right message about “Jubilee milestones” effectively.

“We have launched an Uwezo Fund for youth and women. How much have the politicians done to make Kenyans aware of these funds?” she asked.

She said great development strides made by the Jubilee Government were overshadowed by politics.

“Let us look at development issues; leave politics as it will make us lose the fruits of development by the government.”

Kericho, Nyamira, Narok and Baringo governors have been put on the spot by MCAs who have threatened to impeach them just like their Embu counterparts did to Governor Nyaga Wambora.

The leaders spoke even as governors are restless as MCAs scheme to impeach them.

The schemes are believed to be championed by a section of MPs and senators to disrupt and kill devolution.

Machakos, Nairobi, Tharaka Nithi and Turkana senators have stated their dissatisfaction with the performance of their governors on a number of issues.

More counties are also on the county assembly’s watch for not following due processes in hiring of workers.

But Nyalenda A (Kisumu) county representative Jackton Onunga said the county assembly must be allowed to do its work without interference by other arms of government.

“Other bodies, especially national assembly must stay away from our oversight role; parliament has a lot to do than dwell on county affairs,” he said.

Ms Wangari said the senate committee on county investments will deliver a proper balancing act to fund the gaps that the current devolution budget of Sh226 billion.

“As a senate we are hoping that we can be able to push for more money for counties; there are still many areas that need more funds to grow,” she said.

The legislators said accountability among officials of county governments was still below par.

“Lets us deal with corruption to make county governments thrive, that is the limit that MCAs should reach in their oversight role than blackmail governors,” said Ms Wangari.

She told politicians including MPs to support governors as counties are in a better position than they were before.

“There is no room for corruption in counties; these are the governments we have today,” she said.

The politicians criticized the opposition for obscuring the good progress of devolution as executed by Jubilee.

“Cord has more governors than Jubilee, this means more resources therefore no complaint; let them deliver to the people before they direct their guns at the government,” said Ms Gwendo.

She told the Cord leaders purporting to check the excesses of Jubilee to spend that time delivering to their people and checking the excesses of the county governments under them.