Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga asks President Uhuru Kenyatta not to assent to Division of Revenue Bill

By  Grace Wekesa and Eric Lungai

VIHIGA, KENYA: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta not to assent to the Division of Revenue Bill 2013 on grounds that the National Assembly has significantly reduced funds allocated to the county governments.

Raila noted that the Senate had proposed Sh258 billion for devolution but legislators reduced it to Sh210 billion.

Hurt Kenyans

Raila said that signing the Bill would amount to killing devolution and not honouring the new Constitution that Kenyans voted for overwhelmingly.

“The move will hurt Kenyans who knew devolution will bring development to the counties,” he said.

He said Uhuru should make sure the relevant authorities amend the Bill before it is brought back to him.

Raila spoke at Ebusiratsi Secondary School during the thanksgiving ceremony of Vihiga Senator, George Khaniri.

Siaya and Bungoma senators James Orengo and Moses Wetangula, MPs Fredrick Outa, Alfred Agoi, Charles Gimose and Wilbur Otichillo accompanied him.

Echoing the sentiments Senate Leader of Minority, Wetangula, said the Sh210 billion is only enough to pay the workers and not to carry out any tangible development in the 47 counties.

“If Uhuru is going to approve the Bill, he should be prepared to face us in court for violating the new Constitution because his move will be illegal and unconstitutional,” he said.

He said that the counties should be properly funded if devolution is expected to take off at the expected velocity and benefit the people at the grassroots.

Mr Orengo added that they will defend the role said as Senate members as envisaged in the Constitution in devolving power and resources to people at grassroots level.

“The Bill is crucial in matters of channeling resources to all the counties. We shall safeguard devolution as senate members until it works in this country,’’ averred Orengo.

Two weeks ago, Coalition for Reform and Democracy criticised the creation of Devolution ministry because according to them it was a ploy by the national government to frustrate devolution.

The former Sirisia MP reiterated that they want a mediation committee to be set out to solve the issue of superiority between the two houses and bring to an end the hostility between them.

“MPs think they are superior to the senate and defenders of the nation, but I want to tell them that they are following the wrong path. Let’s concentrate on service delivery to Kenyans who elected us to serve in various capacities,” said Wetangula.

Unconstitutional

He pointed out that the Senate Speaker, Ekwe Ethuro has written to the President saying that what the MPs are doing is unconstitutional.

Raila also regretted the move by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to bar journalists from Parliament Buildings with the excuse of creating space for legislators.

He observed that the move is a threat to freedom of the media in the country, which they fought for in the Second Liberation.

“Kenyans ought to be informed on what is going on in Parliament. Muturi should allow the media to use the centre that was introduced by former Speaker, Kenneth Marende, because journalists are the mirror of society,’’ he added.