Raila Accuses County Bosses Of Plotting To Fail Governors-elect

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and His Wife Ida joins members of Kisumu’s ACK, St Stephen's Cathedral in celebrating the Palm Sunday yesterday. PHOTO BY DOMINIC OTHIAMBO

BY FREDERICK ODIERO AND MAUREEN NGANGA
MONDAY, 25 MARCH, 2013

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has claimed that there is a plot by some forces in the government to undermine elected County governors. Raila said the role of County Commissioners at the moment is not clear under the new Constitution. Addressing worshippers at the St Stephen’s Cathedral in Kisumu Odinga said the role of governors must be respected since they have been elected by the people.

Odinga warned against using County Commissioners to subvert gains made in reforms in the country. The PM, who was accompanied by his wife Ida and some MPs elect from Kisumu, said that the county commissioners were being used to undermine the will of the people. He said that having the commissioners in place is tantamount to running a parallel system.

Odinga was responding to claims by Kisumu governorelect Jack Ranguma that he has been told to remain at the second floor of the Nyanza provincial commissioner’s office until the County Commissioner is relocated to a suitable office. In July last year, Attorney General Githu Muigai declined to appeal against a High Court decision to revoke President Kibaki’s appointment of 47 county commissioners.

In her ruling, High Court Judge Mumbi Ngugi said the President had erred in the appointment of the commissioners by overlooking a number of articles in the Constitution. Justice Ngugi said, “The President did not have the legal authority to make such appointments and his decision was against the spirit of the Constitution and the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, which called for consultation and gender balance.”

The list of appointed commissioners had 10 women and 37 men, while the Constitution specifies that no one gender should occupy more than twothirds in any public appointments. At the same time, Raila insisted the County Commissioners cannot work without governors, adding that the national government should restructure the Provincial Administration.

He maintained that the restructuring of the Provincial Administration should be done after devolve Government system is up and running and not vice versa. Yesterday, Raila said that there have been forces fighting against reforms for the last 20 years. He said there cannot be justice without truth.Odinga said there must be truth and justice before reconciliation. The premier was accompanied by MPs-elect Dr Oburu Oginga, Jakoyo Midiwo,Fred Outa,Aduma Owuor and deputy governor Ruth Adhiambo.