MPs want creation of sub-provinces rescinded

By Athman Amran and Karanja Njoroge

Coast MPs have written to Internal Security Minister George Saitoti protesting against the creation of three new administrative regions.

According to sources within the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG), nine coast MPs held an impromptu meeting at Parliament Buildings last Tuesday, where it was decided they write to the minister.

A source said the CPG had first intended to write directly to President Kibaki but decided against it.

"It was felt that the President may ignore the letter based on the argument that he is not the implementing officer," the source said.

CPG chairman Benjamin Gunda confirmed they met but declined to give further information.

"Yes we met but it was to plan for the next CPG retreat and the way forward," Gunda told The Standard on Sunday. The CPG retreat is to be held in Voi from August 5 to 7.

Follow due process

The three Coast sub-regions are West Coast, with Voi as the headquarters, South Coast to be manned from Mombasa, and North Coast with headquarters in Malindi.

The CPG states in the letter they oppose the President’s move because "due process was not followed".

"We demand that the ministry rescind the decision and stop its plan to create the new administrative regions," the letter reads.

The CPG alleges that the Government is trying to divide the Coast community on "ethnic basis and thus marginalise the region further".

CPG vice-chairman Gideon Mung’aro says they are not protesting as such but wanted the matter put in proper perspective.

East African Community Minister Amason Jeffah Kingi says it was bad to make such a major decision without consultation.

Reading mischief

"The Cabinet should have been engaged or at least the President and Prime Minister Raila Odinga should have sat down before the decision was made," Kingi adds.

Garsen MP Danson Mungatana declined to give a stand on the matter, arguing the CPG had to meet first to decide on the way forward.

In the Rift Valley, the creation of four sub-provinces has ruffled local politicians who are reading mischief in the move.

Kanu and ODM politicians have closed ranks to reject the new administrative regions.

Kanu national vice-chairman Gideon Moi says the move is an attempt to implement proposals floated by the PNU early this year, during a retreat in Nakuru. The party called for 20 provinces.

Rift Valley, the country’s most expansive region, got the lion’s share, with four new sub-provinces North Rift with its base in Lodwar, South (Narok), Central (Nakuru) and West (Eldoret)

Speaking in Kipkelion over the weekend, he said the move is a slap in the face of the ongoing reconciliation efforts aimed at healing the communities following post-election violence.

Incidentally, the announcement of the new boundaries also saw the exit of the area PC Hassan Noor Hassan, who has been spearheading peace and reconciliation initiatives since post-election skirmishes.

Hassan, who has been instrumental in the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, was redeployed to the Office of the President.

ODM MPs say they were caught unawares and have petitioned the party to urgently convene a meeting to discuss the issue.

"As a party we need to discuss this issue and come up with a common position," said Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto.

Nominated MP Musa Sirma says some politicians engineered the move as a strategy for the 2012 General Election.

Unpopular decision

He says despite the apparent divisions among party leaders, ODM could still had the capability to reject unpopular decisions.

Konoin MP Dr Julius Kones, who is allied to Agriculture Minister William Ruto, criticised Prime Minister Raila Odinga for claiming to be in Government, yet important decisions were being made without his approval.

Kones accused PNU of taking advantage of emerging divisions in ODM to push its agenda.

Sirma, who is a Nominated MP, says failure to consult the Prime Minister means there is no genuine power sharing between PNU and ODM.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat says the move is ill advised and the Government should reverse it.

"How do you expect residents of Kipkelion District to travel more than 300km to find the deputy PC in Narok town?" he poses.

But Narok South MP Nkoidila Lankas says the Maasai would recognise the new regions. "Government appointments, including ministerial and jobs in the Civil Service have always been favouring one side of the province," he says.

Langas argues North and Central Rift have over the years been favoured.