Written By:Kendagor Obadiah/Glena Nyamwaya, Posted: Mon, Jul 25, 2011
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| The MPs' on a 2-day retreat deliberated on the contents of 6 Bills meant to guide the devolved government structure |
The retreat on devolved governments held in a Naivasha hotel ended Monday on a heated note.
Members of Parliament protested against the Local Government Ministry's assertion that their deliberations will be reviewed by the steering committee on devolved governments.
Members read mischief in the procedure claiming the government is seeking an opportunity to mutilate their input.
Even with extensive deliberations on devolved governments, the Treasury and the task force on devolved governments are still entangled in a row.
The task force is of the opinion that three separate laws be put in place.
The Public Finance Management law is proposed to be the overall overseer of national revenue, a County Government Finance Management law to be responsible for county revenue and an Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations law to enhance financial inter-relations of both levels of government.
Treasury holds a contrary opinion that a single law, called the Public Financial Management law, with adequate structures for internationally acceptable practices is sufficient to oversee financial allocations in all levels of government.
However a scuffle emerged from among the attendants when Local Government PS Karega Mutahi alluded that the deliberations of the retreat would be reviewed by the devolution steering committee before being published for debate in Parliament.
Other important issues scrutinized included elections management at the county level, gender balance, and county infrastructure among others.
Council property
Councils across the country are selling or leasing prime property in preparation of winding up as evolved governments takes shape.
Following the disclosure, MPs now want the Ministry of Local Government to ban the transfer of the assets by the councils.
Speaking at the end of a two day workshop on devolved governments on Monday, the MPs expressed their concern over the emerging trend.
Tigania East legislator Peter Munya said that he was aware of such councils and called for quick action before the capital assets were done away with.
"Some municipalities have embarked on transferring key assets in the region in preparation for the winding up of civic bodies,"
The sentiments were echoed by Public Works Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri who called on the local government minister to reign on such councils.
"Many of the councils are in a hurry to dispose off the property and the Minister should order that the officers stop interfering with council property," Kiunjuri lamented.
The legislators were speaking in Great Rift Valley lodge Naivasha in a workshop meant to induct them on six crucial bills.
The bills have been drafted by the taskforce on devolved governments with a view to giving recommendations before being tabled in Parliament.
During the deliberations, the MPs warned that hundreds of civil servants would lose their jobs under the new Constitution.
According to Higher Education Assistant Minister Asman Kamama it would be hard to accommodate all the civil servants in some counties and the none-productive ones would be sacked.
He proposed the setting up of fund to pay the workers who would lose their jobs during the period.
Addressing the press, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that elections for county representatives would be held at the same time as the national elections.
"The provincial administration will also have to be restructured so that they are in conformity with the county government," said Mudavadi.
Following the disclosure, MPs now want the Ministry of Local Government to ban the transfer of the assets by the councils.
Speaking at the end of a two day workshop on devolved governments on Monday, the MPs expressed their concern over the emerging trend.
Tigania East legislator Peter Munya said that he was aware of such councils and called for quick action before the capital assets were done away with.
"Some municipalities have embarked on transferring key assets in the region in preparation for the winding up of civic bodies,"
The sentiments were echoed by Public Works Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri who called on the local government minister to reign on such councils.
"Many of the councils are in a hurry to dispose off the property and the Minister should order that the officers stop interfering with council property," Kiunjuri lamented.
The legislators were speaking in Great Rift Valley lodge Naivasha in a workshop meant to induct them on six crucial bills.
The bills have been drafted by the taskforce on devolved governments with a view to giving recommendations before being tabled in Parliament.
During the deliberations, the MPs warned that hundreds of civil servants would lose their jobs under the new Constitution.
According to Higher Education Assistant Minister Asman Kamama it would be hard to accommodate all the civil servants in some counties and the none-productive ones would be sacked.
He proposed the setting up of fund to pay the workers who would lose their jobs during the period.
Addressing the press, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that elections for county representatives would be held at the same time as the national elections.
"The provincial administration will also have to be restructured so that they are in conformity with the county government," said Mudavadi.
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