Governors row ‘won’t derail Jubilee’

The rivalry between governors and Parliament is a temporary challenge, Deputy President William Ruto said yesterday.

“In a new system there are always challenges here and there but this will eventually come to an end,” Mr Ruto said in Nakuru where he addressed three meetings.

However, he said the challenges confronting the government will not stop the Jubilee administration from delivering its election pledges.

The Senate and the National Assembly have united in their onslaught against governors whom they accuse of acting like “small presidents”. They have accused the governors of avoiding answering questions on allegations of plundering public funds.

The war was triggered by a Senate decision endorsing the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora over corruption allegations.

Mr Ruto said the conflict between the two Houses and governors was normal in a new constitutional dispensation. But he said this will not derail Jubilee from fulfilling its election pledges.

While addressing another gathering at St Peter’s Secondary School in Elburgon, the Deputy President defended the standard gauge railway project saying its construction will go on despite opposition.

PROTECT DEVOLUTION

And in Kisii, Mr Charles Nyachae, who chairs the Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC), asked elected leaders to protect devolution by shunning the contests between senators, governors and MPs.

“The wars between MPS, senators and governors will scuttle the efforts and spirit of the new Constitution that Kenyans voted for,” he warned.

Speaking at Keigamerere SDA Church in Bobasi constituency, Mr Nyachae said the supremacy wars risk derailing development and killing devolution.

In Nyahururu, Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka blamed the conflict on the envy that MPs and senators have for county bosses.

“The tragedy today is that although the Constitution spelt out duties of the President, Governor, Senator and MP, the senators and MPs feel they got less power compared to governors,” he said when he presided over the launch of deposit taking services at the Nyahururu Umoja Sacco.

In Kirinyaga, Governor Joseph Ndathi said governors and members of county assemblies countrywide are set to meet over a decision by MPs to take transfer the management of the Sh3.4 billion fund for marginalised areas from counties to constituencies.

The county bosses and the members will discuss the possibility of pushing for a referendum to determine who should manage the Equalisation Fund, he said.

“We are unhappy with the decision made by MPs,” he said after being anointed as a senior elder.

And in Nanyuki, Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro has told county assemblies to work with governors without compromising on accountability for public funds.

“We still have challenges of transition. Now that the governors are working, my plea to members of county assemblies is to work with them but do not compromise on accountability,” he said during the Laikipia County Assembly Day during which key legislative documents were launched.

Reported By Muchemi Wachira, Jackline Moraa, Moses Odhiambo, David Macharia, George Munene and Muchiri Gitonga