Taita-Taveta County leaders seek public support for referendum

Updated Sunday, August 18th 2013 at 22:06 GMT +3

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

KENYA: Leaders in Taita-Taveta County have intensified their campaign for a referendum and asked the local community to support them.

The leaders who included Senator Dan Mwazo, County Governor John Mruttu and MPs Joyce Wanjala Lay, Thomas Mwadeghu, Andrew Mwadime and Jone Mlolwa argued that amendment of the Constitution was necessary to protect devolution.

They lashed out at the Jubilee government accusing it of planning to kill devolution.

“Counties have not yet received funds from the central government and that is why CORD is calling on Kenyans to support its referendum calls to ensure that resources are shared equally between the devolved units and the central government,” said Mwazo, who is leading the referendum crusade in the region.

“The coalition ( CORD) will soon start collecting signatures in preparation for the impendingreferendum to change the Constitution. We will not allow a few individuals to kill devolution that Kenyans have been yearning for,” he added.

At the same time, the leaders want all mining leases issued to powerful individuals in the region revoked to ensure fair distribution.

The revocation of the controversial licences, they said, would ensure locals easily get licences in order to have direct control of the mines.