Senators push for say in county plans

What you need to know:

  • Lawmakers seek public support for Bill seeking to form development boards

Senators have reached out to the public as they popularise a Bill seeking to establish county development boards.

Senate Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, which is behind the County Governments (Amendment) Bill, 2013, on Sunday met civil society groups at the Senate Chambers in Nairobi in a bid to win their support.

Their campaign is aimed at countering opposition from some governors, who have accused the lawmakers of seeking to usurp executive powers.

Committee chairman Amos Wako said the Bill was constitutional and boards were meant to improve service delivery in counties.

“It’s wrong for those opposed to the Bill to claim that senators are after the governors’ executive authority,” he said.

He said they were not opposed to devolution as those against the Bill, which has been tabled before the Senate, would want Kenyans to believe.

The Busia senator said the boards shall provide advise on county operations and governors should not be worried.

Committee vice chairperson Stephen Sang had similar views. “When the Bill talks of ‘consider and adopt county issues’, it does not translate to approval of those ideas,” he said.

Senator Fatuma Dullo, while supporting the Bill, noted that some governors do not discuss pertinent issues affecting their counties with the county leaders before taking action— a move she said was risky.

“This oversight bodies are not meant to create disharmony but to improve on the overall performance at the counties,” she said.

A member of the civil society, Dr Steve Ouma, urged senators to play advisory roles on the board to avoid conflicts.

“They should create structures for sharing information and not deciding,” said Dr Ouma, the Executive Director of Pamoja Trust.

But the Council of Governors Secretary Ken Lusaka faulted the senator’s move, saying they have an ulterior motive.