Taita-Taveta Members of parliament join push for constitutional referendum

By Renson Mnyamwezi

TAITA, KENYA:  MPs in Taita-Taveta County have supported calls to have a constitutional referendum to amend the allocation of funds to counties.

The ODM legislators, led by Senator Dan Mwazo said they would continue to rally for a referendum to ensure equitable resource allocation and distribution between the devolved and central governments are achieved.

Mwazo who is also the former Tourism Minister hit out at the Jubilee government accusing it of frustrating devolution.

“The major beneficiaries of the centralized system of government are not ready to allow devolution. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto are opposed to devolution and that is why many Kenyans are rallying for referendum,” said the former Voi MP.

Speaking in various trading centres to rally for a constitutional referendum, Mwazo who was accompanied by MPs Andrew Mwadime (Mwatate), Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi), Jones Mlolwa (Voi) and Joyce Wanjala Lay (County MP) said if referendum succeeds, sharing of national resources would be 50-50 sharing between the two governments.

“Referendum is real and the local community should be prepared for it. As a senate, I will collect more than 20,000 signatures in each sub-location in the county to help amend the constitution,” he said.

“Resource allocation and distribution is skewed in favour of certain areas. We have a government where a few leaders distribute resources to areas they like and neglect some areas,” Mwazo added.

Mwazo was speaking during a rally to thank the local community for overwhelmingly voting for Cord and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Mr Oding will on Tuesday address a political rally in Taveta border town.

“We are aware that powerful forces are out to frustrate devolution but Kenyans will have a say on the outcome of the impeding referendum,” he said.

“Intense campaigns for referendum have just started and will be scaled up. We will mobilize youth to register for national identity cards to enable them vote and alter the law for the good of many impoverished Kenyans,” he added.

At the same time the leaders vowed to push for the speedy enactment of the Wildlife and Mining Bills to ensure Kenyans benefited from their natural resources.

Noting that the region was endowed with enormous resources like minerals, wildlife and water bodies, Ms Wanjala said such resources benefited outsiders at the expense of locals.

“The region faces one of the worst human wildlife conflict in the country yet residents do not benefit from the wildlife resource. The speedily passing of the Wildlife Bill will ensure enough compensation in cases of death and destruction of property,” said the legislator.

Mwadime, Mwadeghu and Mlowa said local elected leaders were now united and working together for faster development.

“Time for politics is over and our main focus is now development,” said Mlolwa. “The region is faced with serious challenges and we need to unite to address issues affecting the local community,” added Mwadime.

Mlolwa called on the local community to support elected leaders to deliver on their election pledges. “We are calling on the residents to support us in our endevour to develop the county,” he said.