Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Governors to get diplomatic passports, special car number plates

President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto during the National and County Government Coordinating Summit at State House, Nairobi June 19, 2013. The President ordered that Governors be issued with diplomatic passports and special car number plates to facilitate their roles under the devolved government. PPS
President Kenyatta has ordered that Governors be issued with diplomatic passports and special car number plates to facilitate their roles under the devolved government.
The President said all functions of the county governments should be devolved immediately.
"The National Government has already given instructions to all concerned institutions to ensure that devolution is implemented as per the 4th Schedule of the Constitution," said President Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi Wednesday where he chaired the National and County Government Coordinating Summit.
The summit, which brings together the President, Deputy President and all county governors, provides a forum for consultation and cooperation between the national and county governments and meets at least twice a year.
President Kenyatta acknowledged teething problems in the implementation of the new constitutional order, but maintained that such should not be misconstrued as a lack of commitment or support for devolution.
Aspirations of Kenyans
He said the governors and the National Government can overcome hurdles and succeed in meeting the aspirations of Kenyans by working closely.
"The commitment to the process of devolution is both personal and constitutional. The two levels of government were a desire of the people of Kenya,” the President said.
"In virtually all public engagements, we have stated our intention to make the devolution system work.”
Noting that the National Government made pledges some of which fall within the devolved functions under the purview of county governments, President Kenyatta emphasized the need for the two levels of government to work together closely in order to deliver to Kenyans.
He said the national and county governments should strive to be partners not competitors.
“We have a common mandate given to us by the people and this mandate will not be achieved by talking at each other but by talking with each other," he said.
"We are supposed to complement one another in order to deliver."
Deputy President William Ruto said the Jubilee Government takes seriously its responsibility to implement the Constitution in letter and spirit, particularly devolution.
He said the devolved system of government forms an integral part of the new government structure.
"We believe that the success of the elected leadership of the country is going to be achieved if the national and county governments succeed in the mandates given to them by the Constitution,” Mr Ruto said.
"We believe we will achieve the double digit growth rate if we facilitate county governments to transform into centres of economic growth.
The Deputy President said the national government is keen on working closely with governors to help in building the capacity of county governments, saying this will fast-track the development and economic transformation of the country.

No comments:

Post a Comment