Chepkwony issues condition of abandoning referendum push

If Parliament approves a Bill being authored by governors and passed through county assemblies, then county chiefs will abandon the Pesa Mashinani campaign, Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony has said.

Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kericho Green Stadium, Mr Chepkwony, who was responding to calls by Members of the Kericho County Assembly to abandon the referendum quest, said governors had no problem abandoning the campaign if MPs approved the Bill.

"As governors, we will be very happy if county assemblies approve the Bill authored by governors and the National Assembly also speedily passes it, and the President assents it into law enabling revenue allocation to the counties to be increased without the country going to a referendum," he said.

Chepkwony said once the Bill was ready, they would give it to MPs so it could be debated. If the latter failed to take up the challenge then the Government would have to leave it to Kenyans to decide.

Meanwhile, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya criticised the national government for allegedly undermining devolution by not allocating enough funds to the counties.

Release funds

Speaking at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega during Mashujaa Day celebrations, Mr Oparanya said the efforts of the Council of Governors to persuade the Jubilee administration to release more funds had failed to yield results.

"We are left with no other option than to invoke the constitutional provisions that require citizens to participate in the decision-making process by either voting for or against the referendum," he said.