Raila warns of forces keen to derail devolution

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By Standard team

As debate on a move to scrap the Senate rages, Prime Minister Raila Odinga is warning of forces keen to preserve the old order.

Raila said every Kenyan must stand up in defence of the Constitution they chose, and hold their leaders to account, while those in Parliament continue struggling to contain moves to take the country backwards.

Raila said: "At every step of the way, those of us working to implement the Constitution meet roadblocks. In particular, the effort to prevent the implementation of devolution of power to the people is a powerful one."

But speaking from the US Sunday, the MP behind the move Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni was confident that he would win the legislators’ backing.

"It is a reality that the Government can not afford to pay for a bloated House and those dismissing my proposal are burying their heads in the sand," he said.

"We have always called on the Government to reduce its expenditure and that is why the move is necessary. I want to call on my colleagues to face the reality and support this proposal since the country cannot sustain a Parliament, Senate and 47 Governors."

Sunday, civil society groups also cautioned Parliament against amending the Constitution to scrap the Senate.

"Attempts to kill devolution are also attempts to abort the new constitutional order. We warn that any attempt to massacre the devolution structure must be met with resistance," said National Civil Society Congress leader Morris Odhiambo. (See separate story on page 20)

In his Jamhuri Day message, the Prime Minister cautioned that the forces of yesteryear are determined that devolution does not succeed.

Raila called on every Kenyan to stand firm for devolution as envisaged in the Constitution.

"Many have an interest in seeing things continue the way they always have. Those are the forces we must all resist. Individual interests must be contained, to allow the advancement of the poorest in our nation. We don’t want to continue with that broken system, nor do we want a patchwork Constitution," said Raila.

Separately, former MPs from central Kenya also opposed calls for the removal of the Senate. The Nyandarua Leaders Forum spokesman former Kinangop MP Waithaka Mwangi urged lawmakers to ignore the proposal as it was a personal opinion.

He said the second chamber was important as it would check Parliament and prevent the passing of laws that go against the wishes of the people. The group asked Kioni to abandon the amendment since it was doomed to fail.