MPs oppose creation of county boards

By WILFRED AYAGA

Members of the National Assembly yesterday rejected the push to establish County Development Boards to manage projects in the counties.

The lawmakers said they will not be used as pawns in the war between senators and governors over seniority in the counties.

Majority Leader Aden Duale said the membership of the proposed boards in the counties would contravene the Constitution as it mixes executive functions with the legislators traditional roles of representation, oversight and legislation.

“It is not my function to draw budgets for counties or to draw the county integrated plans. We should not agree to the Bill,” said Duale.

The Majority Leader added: “If this Bill passes to micro-manage county governments, what will block a member from also drafting a Bill to micro-manage the Executive?…the Bill was drafted will ill intentions. Lawyers can agree with me, the Bill can be challenged in courts,” said Duale.

The County Governments (Amendment) Bill, 2013 IS sponsored by Senator Stephen Sang. Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord) legislators questioned the legality of the Bill, and said that they will not allow themseves to be drawn into the power feud between the governors and senators.

Contravenes Constitution

Meanwhile, a fresh bid to deny governors flags and the ‘His Excellency’ title failed to take off in the National Assembly after MPs questioned the constitutionality of the Bill.

Other MPs wanted the debate on the National Flags, Emblems and Names (amendment) Bill stopped, but the presiding Speaker’s Jessica Mbalu overruled them.

MPs wanted the House to halt the debate on grounds that the Bill contravenes the provisions of the Constitution on national values and patriotism.Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo raised the red flag on the Bill’s constitutionality, warning the MPs’ against seeking to “settle scores with the country’s governors through the Bill.”

“Article 10 of the Constitution is clear about national values. Among the national values enumerated shall include patriotism and national unity. Placing a caveat on who should use the national flag violates this principle,” said Gumbo.

 “I’m very concerned. What we are trying to do is to stop Kenyans from expressing patriotism,” he said.