Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Big names line up for county posts


By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, September 13 2010 at 22:00

Yesteryear powerbrokers are plotting a comeback as county leaders at the next election.

Former Cabinet ministers and MPs are joining sitting ones in early positioning for senators and governors’ seats in 2012.

Among them are former ministers Nicholas Biwott, Mutahi Kagwe, Chris Murungaru, Njeru Ndwiga, Marsden Madoka, Mukhisa Kituyi, and Kipruto Kirwa.

However, they face competition from sitting ministers and MPs, professionals, businesspeople and youthful politicians who want to become governors and senators — the two most coveted seats under the new Constitution.

Serving ministers Soita Shitanda, Wycliffe Oparanya, Najib Balala, Henry Kosgey, Njeru Githae, Joseph Nyaga, assistant ministers George Khaniri and MPs Hassan Joho, Musikari Kombo and Danson Mungatana are also eyeing one of the two seats.

Moi University lecturer Mutakha Kangu says the leaders were going for the new jobs because they are prestigious. Mr Kangu argued that politicians like to be seen as their communities’ spokespeople, and being elected senator is like getting the constitutional backing to be the tribal point man.

“Politicians realise that to be elected senator, you will have received the direct mandate of voters across the county to speak on their behalf. Your claim will be founded in the Constitution and that has an aspect of prestige,” he said.

Comparing the status of an MP and that of a senator, he gave the example of Kakamega County, which has nine constituencies.

“The county has a population of 1.6 million people and the senator will feel superior to MPs,” he said.

The law lecturer said since governors will be elected directly by the people in a county and will wield executive powers, it is felt they hold higher positions than MPs.

“They will have their own Cabinet and a budget to run their own affairs — just like the President does at the national level. They will feel superior,” he said.

However, the chairman of the Committee of Experts (CoE) that wrote the new Constitution, Mr Nzamba Kitonga, dismissed the impression that governors and senators will be superior to MPs.

“The governor wields the authority to run a county subject to the county assembly. The work of the senator will be to represent the interests of the counties in terms of finances and all other matters relating to legislation. They will also participate in the impeachment of the president or deputy president,” he said.

The fact that governors and senators will be elected by voters from more than one constituency has driven politicians — including the sitting ones — to start campaigning for the two positions.

Under the new Constitution, the governor will be the chief executive officer of the counties and will be in charge of the day-to-day running of the affairs in their jurisdiction.

They will exercise the powers with the deputy governor and officials appointed in consultation with the county assembly. They will be elected on the same day as MPs, Senators and the President.

Mr Biwott, the former Keiyo South MP, was at the weekend endorsed to run for the senator’s seat in Elgeyo/Marakwet County.

Mr Kagwe, a former minister for Information and Communications, is said to be interested in the Nyeri county senate seat.

Dr Murungaru, the former powerful Internal Security minister, said he would vie for the governor’s seat.

“I am of the view that that there’s plenty of time to make such weighty decisions, which in any case should be preceded by consultations, both at constituency and county level,” he said.

In Embu County, Mr Ndwiga, who is the former Cooperative Development minister, will fight it out with Mr Nyaga and former Siakago MP Justin Muturi for the seat of senator.

Major (Rtd) Madoka, who was a minister in the Kanu regime, said he will be vying for the senator’s seat in Taita/Taveta County.

“People have said I am fit for that position because everyone is aware that the senate needs mature and sober people,” he said of the seat that former MP Mwandawiro Mghangha is also eyeing.

Mr Kirwa will lock horns with Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa for the Trans Nzoia senate seat.

Other ministers who have declared interest in becoming senators include Mr Shitanda and Mr Oparanya (Kakamega County) and Mr Kosgey (Nandi).

No comments:

Post a Comment