Senators against plan to wind up Transition team

A plan to dissolve the Transition Authority suffered a setback on Wednesday when senators opposed it.

The lawmakers said this would jeopardise devolution and that they would reject any plans to dissolve the authority in favour of a committee as proposed by Attorney-General Githu Muigai.

The National Assembly was getting ready to discuss the Bill after Cabinet approved it.

The lawmakers questioned the motive behind the bid to scrap the authority before it completed its work.

Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki promised to oppose the Bill when presented to the Senate.

ANTICIPATED SUCH A BODY

“I will oppose any move that aims at bringing to end the Transition Authority. The drafters of the Constitution anticipated such a body and it will be wrong to terminate it for now,” said Prof Kindiki.

The AG had prepared to present to the National Assembly the Statute Bill that proposes to replace the authority with an intergovernmental committee.

Deputy Minority Leader Abdirahman Hassan said: “It is not right to disband the authority at this time. The government is making a serious mistake. It is important to allow the body to do its work to its logical conclusion.”

Busia Senator Amos Wako told the House that the authority had expressed fears that it could be dissolved any moment after the National Assembly got a nod to begin debate on the proposed law.

“The Bill has been approved by Parliament and it is on its way out,” said Mr Wako, the Legal Affairs and Human Rights committee chairman.

Committee members met the Transitional Authority on Tuesday and yesterday, Mr Wako said, noting: “According to the Constitution, this body should do its work for three years. We should give them time to ensure devolution is realised.”

“The authority still has a job to do including auditing the assets and liabilities of former county councils,” said Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo.

Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru supported the move to scrap the authority.

However, Majority Chief Whip Beatrice Elachi said the scrapping of the authority would derail it work.

“What we are doing is allowing corruption to thrive. We are not telling Kenyans about the status of the assets, liabilities and the process of their transfer happening now. We have to be careful with this proposition,” said Ms Elachi.