PHOTO | STEPHEN MUDIARI ODM leader Raila Odinga (centre) chats with former minister William ole Ntimama and other party leaders after their National Executive Council meeting at the party headquarters in Nairobi on August 20, 2013. NATION MEDIA GROUP
Jubilee Coalition senators abandoned the push for a referendum to strengthen the Senate.
At the same time Cord leader Raila Odinga met opposition MPs and senators from his party and maintained their agitation for a pro-devolution referendum while backing down on the push for changes in the method of electing a president.
Deputy President William Ruto met the 31 Jubilee senators in his official residence in Karen where they struck a deal that appeared to have cooled the calls for a referendum.
The DP and the ruling coalition senators said they would now use internal structures and their numbers in Parliament to support devolution.
Mr Odinga engaged his team at Orange House, Nairobi, where they resolved to proceed with campaigns for a referendum to strengthen devolution.
The ODM group however abandoned its calls for constitutional amendments to change the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system.
Mr Ruto warned the senators that the referendum campaign was being used by the opposition to undermine the Jubilee Government, so supporting it amounted to aiding a referendum against their government.
Sources at the Jubilee Senators Parliamentary Group meeting told the Nation that members called on the government to prevail upon Speaker Justin Muturi and other key majority leaders in the National Assembly to appreciate and respect the role of the Senate.
Mr Ruto agreed to intervene to reconcile the two Speakers, Mr Muturi and his Senate counterpart Ekwee Ethuro, who have consistently differed on the powers and functions of their respective Houses.
A meeting bringing together the entire Jubilee leadership in the Senate and the National Assembly is scheduled for next week to deal with the differences between the two Chambers.
“I want to confirm that the issues raised by the Senate in regard to the management of relationship between the Senate and the National Assembly have been discussed and a framework agreed upon. As the coalition with majority in both Houses we have agreed that we will work on the relationship of the two Houses,” Mr Ruto stated.
Mr Ruto said the Executive would support the amendments of the various legislations required to support devolution.
He said that additional resources would be made available for the county governments from the next financial year. “As the Executive in accordance with manifesto that the Jubilee got themselves elected upon, we will set aside 40 per cent of the resources to the county governments. We did not require a referendum to put this at 32 per cent and we do not need any referendum to make it 40 per cent,” he said.
ACCEPT THE MONEY
He urged the governors to accept the money made available to them and immediately embark on service delivery as they await review next year based on what he termed as much more scientific formula.
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Kithuri Kindiki said all the Jubilee governors would be whipped into backing out of the referendum calls.
“The governors are not politically neutral. They either belong to Cord or to Jubilee and they will be advised accordingly,” Prof Kindiki said.
He added: “We have analysed the mood of the majority of the people of Kenya today. They are yearning to see services rolled out to them as soon as possible. On this one the people of Kenya are not talking as Jubilee or Cord, they need service. We have decided that the people of Kenya are not ready for a referendum now.”
The Jubilee position was also supported by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims at a meeting on the matter in Nairobi.
The Jubilee position was also supported by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims at a meeting on the matter in Nairobi.
“We have decided that it is good to advise the politicians to climb down from this idea of pushing for a referendum just months after a fatiguing General Election. As Supkem we are asking those pushing for it to refrain,” said Supkem General Secretary Aden Wachu.
But ODM maintained it would push for a referendum to increase budgetary allocations to counties from the current 15 per cent to not less than 40 per cent.
The party’s National Executive Committee chaired by Mr Odinga also resolved to strengthen the role of the Senate to enable it be an effective House representing the counties.
“The party has resolved to support a national referendum to establish the percentage of the national budget allocated to counties at no less than 40 per cent…,” the party resolved in a communiqué read by secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o.
While explaining their apparent change of heart over changing the system of government, Mr Odinga said it was not their priority.
“Even though this issue of changing the system of government is a pregnant one, we will now concentrate on devolution,” said the former PM at a news conference after the Orange House meeting.
“We do not want to confuse people (on the issue to be taken for a referendum).
“Kenyans are however free to discuss the matter. We want constructive debate on the matter. ODM and Cord will now concentrate on the push to increase resources to counties,” he continued.
Mr Odinga claimed there was no goodwill on the part of government to ensure devolution succeeded, so Cord would effectively play its role to ensure it did.
“Rather that bank our hopes that the government will fully implement devolution, why don’t we ensure that this matter is enshrined fully in our laws?” he asked.
However, Nyaribari Chache MP Chris Bichage appeared to differ with his party position.
However, Nyaribari Chache MP Chris Bichage appeared to differ with his party position.
Said the MP: “I fully support devolution. There’s no doubt about that. But why don’t we first wait and see how governors will spend the money already given to them before we decide on whether to increase it or not?” posed Mr Bichage.
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