To stop the referendum, just allocate more cash to counties

I attended the launch of referendum signature collection by governors in Bomet Stadium on Saturday and noted that though the campaign is still at its nascent stage, it is steadily gaining ground.

Away from the cacophony of demands from the politicians there, I gleaned a refrain from six governors who said their move was informed by the President’s snub.

They accused Mr Kenyatta of reneging on promises made on how to let devolution take root. They drew parallels between the current state of affairs and how the Independence majimbo was done away with.

One governor told the crowd that his current budgetary allocations for roads can only do four kilometres of a standard tarmac road. Obviously, voters will buy such ideas that touch on their lives.

Still, the referendum push can be halted. The President ought to demonstrate in word and deed that he is committed to devolution and consult more with county chiefs without hiding any cards. Perhaps, he should listen less to trigger-happy senators and MPs who have their own bone to pick with governors.

The President needs to rally his troops in Parliament so that the latest fiscal budget is used as a basis for allocating funds to counties.

This way the President will halt Pesa Mashinani and will only have to deal with the Opposition-sponsored Okoa Kenya campaign.
NICHOLAS CHERUIYOT, Bomet