GOOD GOVERNANCE

The Proposed Constitution will ensure regions get their fair share of the national cake, Narc-Kenya Secretary General Danson Mungatana has said.

Mr Mungatana said the regions would have the opportunity to present their budgets to the Finance Ministry unlike the present approach.

He urged MPs opposed to the proposed law to leave the ‘No’ camp to Church leaders who do not know the intricacies of budget-making that has denied allocation of funds to the regions over the years.

"We can forgive the bishops because they do not understand what problems MPs go through while seeking funds to be allocated to their constituencies, but not the MPs," Mungatana said.

The Narc-Kenya official said MPs would no longer have to beg the Executive for funds to develop their constituencies since they will have a say in the process of budget-making.

"Even the President will have to make proposals and submit them to Parliament, and Parliament will have the final say in the process if Kenyans pass the proposed Constitution," Mungatana said.

He was speaking at Matangeni Primary School in Kipini Division within his Garsen Constituency during a campaign rally for the Proposed Constitution.

"I urge my fellow MPs Kiema Kilonzo, Mithika Linturi and Isaac Ruto and others opposed to the Proposed Constitution to abandon the No camp and leave it to the bishops," he said.

The former assistant minister who arrived from the United States recently, said the system of government under the new constitution would be like that of America.

He said: "In America, the president makes proposals and it is up to Congress to pass or reject them. That is exactly how it will be when we adopt the new constitution."

Archaic laws

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ has said the Proposed Constitution would ensure leaders are accountable and save the poor who have suffered decades of oppression under "archaic laws."

The minister termed the document as good, saying it would redefine governance if endorsed at the referendum.

"I appeal to Kenyans to defy calls to trash the document if they want to breathe a sigh of relief from years of oppression," said the minister.

Kajwang’ exuded confidence that the new laws would erase imperial leadership largely to blame for the destruction of the country’s economy over the years.

"This is the only document that will proclaim good news to the poor and give them powers to hold leaders accountable for their deeds," he said.

The minister was speaking at Piny Owacho Primary School in his Mbita Constituency during a funds drive in aid of the school.