Now governors soften stand on referendum

Governors will drop their calls for a referendum if Parliament enacts a law to increase cash allocated to counties, an official of their umbrella body has said.

Meru Governor Peter Munya, who is also the chairman of the steering committee formed by the Council of Governors to spearhead the Pesa Mashinani referendum campaign, exuded confidence that talks with President Kenyatta would bear fruit.

“If we get concrete commitment that we will get more funding in the next financial year, then we have no reason to go for a referendum. However, we are insisting that this will have to be done through legislation in Parliament,” said the governor.

Mr Munya made the remarks during a press conference in his office where he also named a task force mandated to write a Kimeru dictionary.

Last week, CoG chairman Isaac Ruto, Mr Munya, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi met with President Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.

It was expected that Mr Kenyatta would talk the governors into dropping the referendum push but they vowed to soldier on.

Mr Munya was categorical that the push for the Pesa Mashinani campaign was “unstoppable” until more funds were allocated to county governments.
CORD CAMPAIGNS

He said that in pushing for the referendum to increase the allocation to counties, governors had the interests of Kenyans at heart.

“We are encouraged by some of the signs the national government is showing in dealing with this matter. However, by refusing to give counties their monies as stipulated in the Constitution, the national government is pushing us to ask for a referendum,” said Mr Munya.

He insisted their Pesa Mashinani campaign was different from the one being advanced by Cord.