Governors in fighting mood ahead of Deputy President William Ruto talks

[Ab-Titchaz]

Governors in fighting mood ahead of Deputy President William Ruto talks

Updated Sunday, August 4th 2013 at 23:03 GMT +3 By Geofrey Mosoku and Roselyn Obala

NAIROBI, KENYA: A stormy meeting is expected on Monday between Deputy President William Ruto and governors after the county chiefs last evening accused the government of dishonesty.

They were angered by the decision of the government to retain sh29 billion for county roads and publish a partial list of counties to take over devolved functions.

These governors argued, were meant to form the agenda of Monday morning's joint consultative meeting and framework on the transfer of some functions from the government to the counties. Furious at the development, including restriction of their representation at the talks to three, governors last evening held a crisis meeting in Nairobi to weigh their options.

Reports indicated they would either boycott the forum or attend to express their displeasure. The governors reportedly contemplated petitioning the Senate to cut short their recess to discuss the dispute.

They are also mulling over moving to court to object to the publication of the devolved functions, citing contravention of the Constitution.

"When we say the national government is reneging on its commitment, our statements are not farfetched. You can see clearly someone wants the money for roads to remain in the national government where they can eat," claimed Governors' Council chairman Isaac Ruto, who met his colleagues Evans Kidero, Nderitu Gachagua, Sammy Cheboi, Ukur Yattani, Kivutha Kibwana and Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi at his Jogoo House office in Nairobi.

The notification of the 13 counties to take over devolved functions published on August 2 poisoned the atmosphere for today's meeting with the Deputy President.
Governors interpreted it as an attempt to pre-empt the stakeholders' meeting, at which parties were to agree on the number of functions and how they shall be devolved.

Fewer representatives

Instructively, the Transition Authority published the notice in the Kenya Gazette a day after invitations to today's meeting had been sent out.

Ruto will host the meeting at his official residence in Karen, a week after the first round of talks at which the governors insisted they would press on with their campaign for a referendum to amend the Constitution in order to secure more funding for counties.

An invitation letter from Cabinet Secretary for Devolution, Anne Waiguru, explains that today's meeting will involve fewer representatives.

"The meeting has been re-organised to include a small group and pushed to Monday August 5 at the Deputy President's residence in Karen at 8.30am," reads the letter dated August 1.

In attendance will be Cabinet secretaries for the National Treasury, Transport, Health and Energy, Attorney General Githu Muigai, Council of Governors (strictly three representatives), Transition Authority, Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) and Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).

Also invited are the chairpersons of the various committees of Parliament and their deputies, the Senate's Committee on Finance, Commerce and Economic Affairs, Session Committee on Devolved Government and Standing Committee on Energy, Roads and Transport.

Governors have accused the government of trying to redefine the Constitution using the Transition Authority (TA), which they claimed takes instructions from the Executive.

In the Kenya Gazette notice published on Friday, TA picked 13 of the 47 counties as the only ones that had complied with timelines set for handling devolved services.

The counties are Kericho, Garissa, Embu, Marsabit, Mandera, Mombasa, Kwale, Kiambu, Trans Nzoia, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Kirinyaga and Bomet.

The government also opened a new battlefront after it emerged that Treasury will retain funds for county roads and rural electrification.

Meru Governor Peter Munya protested the action to retain Sh29 billion from the fuel levy fund meant to undertake repair and construction of roads.

Constitutional provisions

The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution allocates functions of county transport, including county roads, street lighting, traffic and parking, public road transport, and ferries and harbours, but excludes the regulation of international and national shipping and matters related thereto.

But TA's gazette notice reads: "Public road transport excluding county roads and mechanical and transport equipment (Kenya Urban Roads Authority and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority."

The governors also complained that in spite of constitutional provisions, the Kinuthia Wamwangi-led TA is acting on instructions from President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

The leaderswant Roads Cabinet secretary Michael Kamau to recall his letter asking MPs to appoint Roads committees.

Baringo's Cheboi wondered why the national government is keen on handling county roads using MPs. "For them the county governments have no capacity to do roads, yet MPs can handle it," Cheboi said, citing last month's communication from Roads Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau asking MPs to appoint Constituency Roads Committees.

On Sunday, Ruto protested the selective transfer of functions while some like Health are retained by the central government.

Last week, the Deputy President met 21 Jubilee-allied governors in a bid to calm the storm over devolution and halt the Governors' Council's push for a referendum.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Governors in fighting mood ahead of Deputy President William Ruto talks

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Why control of Kenya's 47 governors is the next battlefront

Updated Saturday, August 3rd 2013 at 22:13 GMT +3
By Stephen Makabila

Jubilee and CORD's post-election political supremacy battles are now centred on the control of governors.

The recent shepherding of 12 CORD governors to a US tour by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and summoning of 23 Jubilee governors by Deputy President William Ruto to his Karen residence only served to demonstrate political power games between the two rival coalitions.

While the former premier fought off accusations that the US trip was political, the Ruto meeting was meant to convince Jubilee governors not to play ball with their CORD counterparts in pushing the Jubilee Government hard on devolution.

There has been a feeling among MPs from Rift Valley Province allied to the Deputy President that Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto (Jubilee), who is the chairman of the Governors' Council, was working with CORD to undermine Jubilee.

But Ruto disagrees, arguing his main focus and that of other governors was to ensure devolution is on track.

Fellow governors have also come to his defense, arguing Ruto speaks for them when he accuses the Government of attempting to derail devolution. "While governors are united in seeing devolution succeeds, each coalition is flexing its muscle in having its governors on its side and this is likely to continue given the nature of competitive politics being witnessed," says Nyukuri Mulati, a lecturer at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

Prof Munene Macharia of the United States International University says petty politics could ruin the smooth running of counties by governors.

Party interests

"While governors were elected to serve the people, they have to work with the national government's policy as stipulated in the Constitution. Political party manifestoes and party interests, both local and international, are irrelevant," says Macharia, a professor of history and international relations.

Uhuru seem to have struck a cordial working relationship with the 47 governors since assuming office, in what political pundits feel is a skillfully orchestrated political strategy.

The President chairs the Governors' Summit (a constitutional organ), which is to decide on the appraisal formula (for the Governors) and discuss development in counties. Political analyst Titus Bittok says by striking a working rapport with governors from across the political divide, he was demonstrating he is a statesman keen on ensuring the stability of his government. "But the President may also be doing so with an eye on a second term because he requires every support for his re-election," added Bittok, who is also a lecturer at Moi University and an advocate.

Raila has on the other hand consistently told CORD governors not to allow Jubilee to compromise devolution and their powers as independent entities.
While counties development have to reflect the policies of national government, there are those who think by taking CORD governors on foreign tours, Raila wants CORD headed counties to be models in matters of development.

Raila has maintained the trip was necessary with the introduction of devolved system of government and the CORD team wanted to learn from the experiences of those who are already running the system.

"People should be told that we now have 47 county governments. They do not need any person from another government to run their affairs," he said.

While in the US, Raila team attended a two-day Bi-National Kenyan Governors Summit dubbed "Strategic Vision for Good Governance" which was organised by the Network for Development of Youth in partnership with Summers Dodge International Group. The summit ran from July 27 and July 28.

Macharia points out that while every Kenyan has freedom of movement, governors are not in a position to make foreign policy as it has to be through the understanding of the national government, and thus their foreign tours are limited to some level.

"There is no intelligent governor who can be ready to work at cross purpose with the national government due to the influence of the political party he or she belongs," added Macharia.

In Parliament, Kieni MP Kanini Kega on Tuesday wanted the House to be informed on the value of Raila's US trip and the leader of Majority in the House, Aden Duale, is set to respond on Thursday.

However, Kibra MP Kenneth Okoth says Raila is free to travel with governors and seek funding to develop their counties.

Political analyst Masibo Lumala says governors have to work outside political party cocoons because they have to maintain a health working relationship with the national government.

"Roles of county governments and the national government supplement each other in some way. Apart from funding, there are functions of the national government right down at the county level," adds Dr Lumala, a lecturer at Moi University in Eldoret.

Political analysts feel improved working relations with governors from across the political divide would be a blow to CORD, which has made claims of Jubilee undermining devolution one of its greatest agenda in recent days.

Several weeks back, CORD leaders had accused the Jubilee Government of plotting to frustrate devolution.

Led by Raila and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, they had claimed that the formation of Devolution Ministry and allocating it a Sh84 billion budget was a plot by President Uhuru Kenyatta's Government to "kill" devolution.

The CORD coalition has 24 out of the 47 governors elected on its ticket and Raila has always implored them to resist any attempts by the State to water down their powers.

But Uhuru's Madaraka Day speech in which he re-affirmed his dedication to ensure devolution takes root, in some way countered CORD's claims.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Why control of Kenya's 47 governors is the next battlefront

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Jubilee government out to frustrate devolution, claims Oparanya

Updated Sunday, August 4th 2013 at 20:56 GMT +3
By LUKE ANAMI

A delay to release funds meant for counties and failure to pay civil servants salaries is a ploy to kill devolution, an elected official has said.

Kakamega County Governor, Wycliffe Oparanya,(pictured) further accused the Jubilee government of engaging them in endless meetings, saying it was another plan to dupe them while denying governors the opportunity to implement devolution plans.

"The county governments have received no single cent from the national government. This is a ploy to kill devolution, but we will resist it," Oparanya said on Saturday in Malava during the burial of the late Reuben Sikolia, a former ODM chairman.

He assured the public that the best way to ensure that county government works is to empower it through a referendum. "The county has unveiled its budget but there are no funds to implement it. We will go ahead to collect one million signatures to amend this Constitution and give more money to the counties if this Jubilee government does not watch out," he warned.

Oparanya lashed out at the government for engaging governors in endless meetings that he said only served to slow them down. "We have been invited to another meeting by the President next week yet there is nothing substantial that comes out of those meetings," he said.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale claimed there were plans to grant Kiambu and Nakuru more devolved funds than Kakamega County.

Second largest

This, he said, was against the Commission for Revenue Allocation formula that ranked Kakamega the second largest after Nairobi County.

"There was an attempt on the Bill that was brought before the Senate for allocation of revenue to various counties to give Kiambu and Nakuru more money than Kakamega and yet all Kenyans know that Kakamega is bigger, poorer and larger than Kiambu and Nakuru," Khalwale said. "We are warning the Treasury not to give more funds to counties than what was allocated by CRA."

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Jubilee government out to frustrate devolution, claims Oparanya

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

RUTO USES REPS TO FIGHT RUTTO

Saturday, August 3, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY DAVID MWERE

Deputy President William Ruto, under political threat from Bomet governor Isaac Ruto, has asked members of the Bomet County Assembly to assist him cut his rival down to size.

The Deputy President yesterday hosted a section of the MCA at his Karen residence in Nairobi, where he explained that Rutto's attacks on the government over devolution were reflecting badly on the DP. Some MCA members loyal to the governor declined to attend the meeting.

Ruto is engaged in supremacy battles against Rutto who, as chairman of the Kenya Association of Governors, is pushing for a national referendum to amend the Constitution to guarantee that 40 percent of national revenue is devolved to the counties.

Rutto enjoys the support of majority of governors and senators in the campaign. The Jubilee government however argues that the referendum is unnecessary since the central government this year sent 32 percent of the revenue to the counties against a constitutional requirement to allocate 15 percent.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto argue that this already shows good faith on the part of the government, and the plebiscite should not be held.

The Bomet MCA who attended the meeting at Ruto's residence last evening cut short their seven-day induction workshop at the Coast, to come to Nairobi after they were summoned over what sources described as "urgent matters."

The training started on 30 July and was to go on until Sunday. It was funded by the Bomet County government to the tune of Sh3.2 million. Yesterday, some of the MCAs confirmed that they were on their way to Nairobi for a meeting with the Deputy President.

The meeting comes after a recent meeting of Governors allied to the Jubilee coalition that was presided over by the Deputy President at his Karen home.

The meeting resolved to heal the wounds between the National government and the County governments after the National Assembly disregarded Senate's decision to increase funding. The meeting also agreed on the way forward regarding the funding of the county government.

Kericho Senator Charles Keter, the Deputy Leader of Majority and Joshua Kuttuny, a key ally of the Deputy President and recently appointed the political advisor to the Presidency allegedly organized yesterday's meeting.

Two are bitter rivals of Governor Rutto who was recently accused by Jubilee allied MPs of plotting to destabilize President Uhuru Kenyatta's government.

However, Rutto yesterday dismissed the organizers of the meeting. "I am not aware of the meeting but the individuals behind it are going to embarrass the government very much. They have no business poking their nose in the affairs of the Bomet County government," Rutto said.

Insiders say that the latest meeting is meant to "cut down to size" the Bomet governor in the battle that pits the two against the control of South Rift.

A scheme to impeach Rutto has already been floated but it is yet to get the required backing of the County Assembly. Several MCA we spoke to said they would not support the impeachment as their governor had done no wrong.

"We can only impeach the governor if he has been involved in corruption, committed a criminal offense or done any other mistake that justifies impeachment, not because politicians from other areas ask us to," one of the county representatives said.

Both Rutto and Keter come from the Kipsigis sub-tribe in the South Rift that controls a huge chunk of the Kalenjin vote base. Even as Ruto prepared hosted the MCA, it was not clear how his relation with the governor is, given that the two are said to have met and held talks on Thursday.

At one time Rutto accused the leadership of the Jubilee government of frustrating devolution. Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who had also become a vocal critic of the government recently went quiet. Sources within the Deputy President said they had contained the lawyer by stiring up trouble for him in his county where he does not yet command loyal support.

A Jubilee affiliated MP from the rift valley confided that the Kericho Senator wants to be the sole spokesman of the South Rift region, to the exclusion of Rutto.

"Keter wanted to be appointed Cabinet Secretary but has never settled after failing to get the position. The plan is to undermine Rutto to have an easy control over the region because he believes that Rutto has overshadowed him politically," the MP said.

The Bomet County Assembly Majority Leader Julius Korir is said to have thrown his weight behind his governor. Korir has been consistent that the County Assembly backing of the governor was only to the extent of devolution but not politics because the devolved funds belong to the people. He has also maintained that they were in Jubilee to stay.

RUTO USES REPS TO FIGHT RUTTO | The Star

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Devolution and Uhuru's Second Term

In the run-up to the March 4 general election, a number of analysts and other observers who had no time whatsoever for the Jubilee coalition ticket of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto warned loudly that a conspiracy was already at an advanced stage, hatched by powerful elements of the then outgoing Mwai Kibaki administration, to scuttle devolution.

All sorts of alarms were raised to the effect that the election of officers for the 47 brand-new counties – governors, senators, county representatives, and women representatives – was being scuttled through being starved of funds by the then outgoing Treasury of Kibaki's last Finance minister Njeru Githae.

DIN ABOUT DILUTION OF DEVOLUTION

All this din about the dilution of devolution took place before the actual date of the kicking in of the new system as specified by the constitution. The devolution provisions in the constitution explicitly specified that they did not come into force until after the first elections for the county officials.

Micah Cheserem, a respected one-time governor of the Central Bank of Kenya during the Moi era, and now chairman of the Commission for Revenue Allocation , contributed substantially to the atmosphere of conspiracy theory by pressing a particularly jarring panic button. Cheserem accused the Githae bureaucrats at Treasury of misleading both the minister and all other Kenyans by slashing the budgetary allocation for every county from a whopping Sh30 billion each, allegedly specified by the constitution, to Sh8 billion. The constitution in fact specified no such, or indeed any other, sums. In any case, at Sh1.4 trillion, such an allocation (Sh30 billion for each of the 47 counties), would have matched the national Budget, a manifest absurdity.

The nearer election day loomed, the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) of then outgoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka introduced a steady drumbeat of an adversarial narrative that painted the Jubilee coalition as devolution's mortal enemies.

Kenyatta's The National Alliance (TNA) was powerfully portrayed as possessing anti-devolution DNA, given the fact that he is the son of founding President Jomo, who had the independence constitution amended within a year of entering State House and the original regional devolution experiment known as Majimbo scuttled at the same time.

Ruto's United Republican Party was not dissimilarly painted as being congenitally opposed to the best that the new constitution stands for, particularly as he spearheaded the Red, or No, campaign in the 2010 national referendum.

However, now that they are respectively President and Deputy President, Kenyatta II and Ruto are being widely considered as being among the least threats to Kenya's second stab at decentralisation. Devolution has other, much more deadly, enemies, and, like the decentralisation paradigm itself, they are legion and they operate from within the counties themselves.

Devolution is being defeated everywhere you look in Kenya, on an all-party and all-coalition basis, and it is being disabled by many of its loudest would-be proponents.

THE CENTRE HOLDS – AGAIN & AGAIN

Kenya's executive and bureaucracy are among some of the most centralised in the world, and have been since colonial times. Centralisation remains the hardest die-hard political paradigm in Kenya, and not only because of the vast vested interests at the centre.

Kenya's first experiment with devolution begun at independence, when Jomo Kenyatta was Prime Minister for 18 months, and was dismantled in the period 1964-66.

If one of the biggest problems with devolution Majimbo style was the fact that Kenya had few leaders with any experience of managing anything larger or more complex than a racially segregated African school or a government ministry in which they were nothing more than figureheads, with the real heavy lifting done by British civil servants, the biggest problem with 'Devolution Reloaded' in Kenya 50 years later is precisely the experience and mindset accumulated over the first five decades of independence, for better and, mostly, for worse.

Starry-eyed proponents of devolution are fond of pointing out that two-thirds of Kenyans voted for decentralisation at the 2010 Yes-No National Referendum, and asserting that it is an antidote to our false-start past and a guarantee of a better future. However, few of these Kenyans, even as late as April this year, foresaw, or even guessed at, what the devolution officials would focus on as their first order of business.

One-and-a-half weeks ago, when the first devolution budgetary allocations were finally released by the National Treasury and the CRA, they totaled Sh210 billion, with capital county Nairobi being the biggest beneficiary at Sh9.9 billion.

Kiambu county, an area neighbouring the capital, which is virtually part of greater Nairobi, received Sh6.26 billion, while Nakuru, capital of the Rift Valley, got Sh6.9 billion. But it was semi-arid Turkana that received the second biggest allocation nationwide after Nairobi, at Sh7.9 billion, while smallest Lamu took just Sh1.6 billion.

Cheserem was still protesting, almost seven months into 2013 and four months after the general election, railing at Parliament for having slashed the senate's devolution part-payment budgetary proposals by Sh47 billion and insisting that the new House's figure of Sh258 billion would have made much more sense.

Parliament was not merely making a saving, it was making a point in the increasingly ugly face-off it continues to have with the Senate, a House that both MPs and the Presidency seem to view as a jumped-up institution that should be sidelined as soon as the opportunity offers itself.

The outspoken council of governors' chairman, Isaac Ruto and Kiambu county governor William Kabogo joined Cheserem in decrying this initial allocation and insisted that more than a dozen counties would have serious shortfalls of development cash.

DEVOLUTION'S GRASPING BUREAUCRACY

Meanwhile, Kenyans have looked on aghast as governors and their county assemblies have made it their first order of business to acquire multi-million-shilling office and residential premises, fleets of 4x4 fuel-guzzling vehicles and advertise for professionals to fill the county bureaucracies at salaries, allowances and perks based on those of the capital city.

Kenyans have never seen anything like the Devolution bureaucrats, cherry-picking their trappings of power, privilege and prestige and doing so with no reference whatever to the voters or the realities of the prevailing harsh economic realities and only partial allocations of cash from the National Treasury.

Other VIPs have entered office since the first Cabinet, Parliament and Senate and the first African provincial and district commissioners 50 years ago, but they fitted seamlessly into pre-existing offices and other facilities in Nairobi and other urban centres and into pay scales and budgets that involved no haggling – and certainly no unilateral cherry-picking.

One ongoing county bureaucracy advertisement offers a monthly house allowance of Sh50,000 to the successful applicant, a figure out of all proportion with prevailing rental rates in the region concerned.

The rationale in the county bureaucracies, however far-flung, has been that they need to attract the best professionals – hence the Nairobi-indexed inflated figures.

Some counties have proposed billion-shilling property acquisition and, or construction for governor's offices, residences and County Assembly premises.
And even where a gubernatorial official has endeavoured to have funds incoming into, instead of flowing out, of a county, he has been widely disbelieved.

Machakos county Governor Dr Alfred Mutua held a much-publicised investors' conference at which Sh56 billion in investment and development cash was pledged.
The former government spokesman, TV crime-busting series producer and magazine publisher's efforts were met with skepticism, including in Ukambani.

Half-a-century ago, the Majimbo Devolution project was defeated by being simply starved of cash, and this was done in the course of 1964, well before Kenyatta transited from being first Prime Minister to first President. British political analyst and historian Charles Hornsby, in his 2011 landmark book Kenya: A History Since Independence, notes the astonishing speed with which Kenyatta moved to centralise power again after first giving the impression that, unlike the control-freak outgoing British, a free Kenya would be a devolved country: ". . . the power of the Cabinet was already in decline by December 1964, with decisions made by caucuses of ministers close to Kenyatta, and communicated to the Cabinet for ratification".The British fascination with a devolved free Kenya, coming as it did hard on the heels of the massively centralised civil war administration (complete with the State of Emergency) of the deadly decade of the 1950s, was suspicious from the start as far as the twin foremost Founding Fathers, Jomo and Jaramogi, were concerned. It is now largely forgotten that Odinga Snr, the father of Raila, was as dedicated a dismantler of Devolution as Kenyatta I.

As Home Affairs Minister under Jomo's premiership, Jaramogi attacked Devolution as determinedly as that other arch strategist and national unity pragmatic proponent of the time, Thomas Joseph Mboya. Odinga remains the most powerful Home Affairs Minister in charge of, among other things, Immigration, the Police and the Provincial Administration, of the post-Independence era, and the only one to have exercised a degree of autonomy. Indeed, so opposed was Odinga to the Majimbo project that the then Opposition Kenya African Democrat Union (Kadu) leader and President of the Rift Valley Regional Assembly, one Moi, had occasion to sue him at the time.

The extremely powerful provincial administration installed for several decades by the British looked all set for dismantling, dispersal to the four winds and sunset during Jomo's 18 months as first Prime Minister of an internally self-ruling Kenya, from June 1, 1963 to December 11, 1964 (he became President, Commander-in-Chief and Kenya a sovereign Republic on December 12). The Majimbo regional Devolution model embedded in the Independence constitution looked all set to supplant the provincial administration.

THE ‘LITTLE KINGS' FACTOR

But, by mid-1965, something very dramatic had happened in Kenya's Executive-bureaucratic top administrative echelons. The provincial administration was back, every bit as powerful as during the Kenya Colony days, and this time answerable to the Office of the President (OP) and State House – i.e. direct to President Kenyatta and his most trusted lieutenants.

Hornsby notes:

"The provincial administration was unusually powerful in Kenya, a legacy of settler rule, the Mau Mau period and the rush for development of the 1950s. After a brief interregnum in 1964, provincial and district administrators exerted nearly as much power as they had before. The ‘little kings', who had ruled their fiefdoms with paternal authoritarianism, were refocused on maintaining a new regime's rule. Through the local security and intelligence committees, their development functions, their control of meetings and the police, they dominated the countryside. The British had trained most provincial officials, and they inherited a mindset that saw their role as the patriarchal heads of their communities and their priority as the maintenance of law and order. Some genuinely believed, as their predecessors had, that political conflict was unproductive, and tried to divert effort into cooperative development".

If Devolution is defeated a second time in Kenya across a 50-to-55-year period, it will not necessarily lead to a restoration of the provincial administration, much as power abhors a vacuum. It is clear that the governors and senators have every intention of becoming Kenya's ‘little kings' of the 21st century, but not all of them are "refocused on maintaining a new regime's rule". The Cord governors and senators clearly have an agenda that does not coincide with the Jubilee coalition's National Government at the centre in Nairobi.

What's more, although all governors have "inherited a mindset" that sees "their role as the patriarchal heads of their communities" (all of them, without exception, are male) their priority is not necessarily uniformly the maintenance of law and order. Indeed, not all of them genuinely believe, as their provincial administration predecessors had, that political conflict is unproductive.

For Cord's complement of governors and senators, it is precisely political conflict that has resulted in the restoration of Devolution. And, clearly, not all Devolution bureaucracies will devote all their effort into cooperative, or indeed any other form of, development, across all parties and coalitions or future combinations of coalitions.

The ugly scenes from the Kiambu County Assembly this week, where Governor William Kabogo's rule is proving to be both erratic and eccentric, are an early indicator of how even President Kenyatta II's own home county is tottering instead of learning how to walk.

The fact that there is unfinished business from the 11th general election's presidential contest as far as the Cord faithful are concerned, and assorted historical baggage is still piling up unaddressed despite and in spite of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission's (TJRC) Report and Recommendations presented to President Kenyatta in May, will all make the latest defeat of Devolution a very different proposition indeed from that of 1963-66.

WILL GOVERNORS & SENATORS EVER PRODUCE A PRESIDENT?

If the ongoing defeat of Devolution persists, today's governors and senators will discover that, far from providing Kenya with its future Presidential prospects, as in exemplary and longstanding American tradition, within two or three election cycles after 2013, they could well face the prospect of being voted out of their pioneering gubernatorial and senatorial positions. And both positions could thereafter be reduced to one-term wonders far into the rest of the century.

In the United States over the past 237 years, 16 presidents were once senators, beginning with James Monroe (in office as President 1817-25) and John Quincy Adams (1797-1801) and including John F. Kennedy (1961-63), Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69), Richard M. Nixon (1969-740 and Barack H. Obama (2009-and continuing).
Seventeen US presidents were former state governors, beginning with Thomas Jefferson (in office as President 1801-09) and James Monroe (1817-25) and including in recent decades Jimmy Carter (1976-80), Ronald Reagan (1980-1988), Bill Clinton (1993-2000) and George W. Bush (2000-2008).

It is Devolution Reloaded, much more than the UhuRuto Administration at the still powerful centre in a historically centralised system, that has suffered a less-than-salubrious first 100 days in office. Whether Devolution recovers both its poise and promise should become clear by the end of the year.

Devolution and Uhuru's Second Term | The Star

 

[Edzeame]

kenyans including Ab-Titchaz et al are delighted at their efforts to detribalize the kenyan forum from just being a platform where the mentioning of mere tribes e.g kamba, kikuyu, kalenjin. Etc.. is done as a hobby and have instead chose to tackle issues rather than worshiping politicians because issues is what the common mwananchi/wanjiku is interested in, issues is what drives and keeps the the needs of the common man fulfilled.

Even people that have found a need to articulate their issues using lawlessness, need their mouths fed and stomachs full as one man once said a revolution cannot succeed on a hungry stomach as well as a run-down mental psychological effect!

Before even anyone proceeds to analyze the above post, there is already a biased attempt to influence the minds of people using a timid type of seduction that lacks an in-depth insight of what currently drives the Kenyan culture and society by believing that the very problems facing the average Kenyan today countrywide is as a result of the kikuyu domination, but there are so many other challenges facing the average Kenyan now.

While we know Kenyans have been cheated election after election by politicians who after being voted into power, afterwards seek to bargain for themselves to gain certain positions in government and power and wealth.

Before county governments have operated without a framework and have been run-down by individuals in different government dispensations. All run-down institutions especially failed health systems and government institutions are not as a result of the current leadership

In 2008, The kibaki regime helped push for a new constitution which was widely regarded by a big percentage of kenyans, yet leaders owe Kenyans an explanation why five years later, the country is still failing to adopt a constitutional order.

Despite there being committees that have been adopted, to help steer the process which seem to be statically retained by factors of ethnic divisions and the common denominators of lawless political campaigns the same kind of committees which if they fall in the wrong hands could easily become machineries for suppressing thought on current political affairs from the common mwananchi while politicians that have in the past triggered genocides walk scott-free, in and out of the corridors of justice.

This kind of mix-up is indeed demonstrating a fallacy of governance within african justice and political systems.

For those in Kenya at the present though is to also tell them that (and as with my being Brown skinned too and knowing myself as such, knowing too that I have safe passageway to both Germany or the Middle East), is to again tell them that, forget all this useless business of ‘Siasa' (or Kenyan State Affairs actually and not Politics truly either), and instead focus, on learning how to build Independent Communities, and with Money too perhaps, as coming in from Oman and not the West truly either (that in all, if you are a broke Kenyan with an idea, and believe no one in Kenya will help you, look out for connections to Oman, and you will in most ways find the help you need) (i.e. visit the Jamia Mosque in Nairobi for all this, connections to Oman that is).

With this same kind of seduction, an ordinary person can be mislead that the emergence of sprawling slums eg kibera in langata constituency Mukuru in makadara is a result of the kikuyus dominating political life social life and intellectual life. Politicians in power can easily determine the destiny of a country which was witnessed in 2008 when post election violence rocked the country.

The country has also gained some stability and a sense of calm owing to the peaceful conclusion of the march 4 polls.

Based on what happened in a Kisii funeral a fortnight ago, is an expression of the abysmal depths of misery incompetent leaders at the county level can inflict on grieving Kenyans. An accident involving twelve secondary school students is indeed an unfortunate incidence that is not man-made or rather the doing of the government or jubilee (if remembered ordered for their immediate evac to a nairobi hospital), yet to popularize one's campaign for political mileage in such an environment in the current democratic dispensation and in the 21[SUP]st[/SUP] century is shameless manifestation of african hitlerism.

Even though democracy is a good achievement for our country, it is also evident that the benefits of a strong central government are now being felt and missed.

The trick is always keep devolution small, nice, discreet, and a professional outfit, which will proof beneficial in the coming years where all nepotism, greed, corruption, and ethnic discrimination will be history

Anyone should be able to hold a position anywhere countrywide which is what independence is all about.

Wanjiku is becoming more poorer but raving politicians are only interested in wasting valuable time issuing petitions in court, running the show in court-battles, referendums and sharpening wanjiku's expressive and demonstrative power of championing for their rights to put flags on their luxurious SUV's, retain excess vehicles that is to be fuelled by the tax-payers, demands for lavish lifestyles, and travels abroad rather than solving the issue surrounding their poverty and help wanjiku overcome it.

Ironically, in the current scenario, it has become increasingly easier to unite the people of kenya and serve the mwananchi than it is for political psychopaths to tribally divide kenyans.

 

[livefire]

I don't like excuses, some counties have no trace of even a mere tarmac road in this modern day Kenya, no infrastructure to sustain or rather nourish a suitable business environment, no health care system, nothing at all

Did u understand why in Kitale the police were inept in containing the senseless killings? Because in a population of 2 million people, a mere 40 officers stood guard....#what a shame. Rem Tana massacres?
that's y governors want a police force that answers directly to them in some way. A fiscal count of police officers per county will greatly improve security rather than having lip service on security when there is non.

Why do we have 90% of our universities in central, Nairobi and Nakuru etc until lately when devolution of the same institutions started?
A good step but some regions still fall way behind. Some sections of this nation are rich in both human and land resources but are bogged down by illiteracy, lack of a vision or i don't know what term i would use to pass the sombre state of affairs. A dark cloud surrounds them and only devolution will enlighten this sleeping giants to fire up their engines.....
GoK na kazi kwa vijana ---- initiative is waste of time considering it doesn't increase productivity. Some very odd jobs one wonders how they coined the term "Kazi kwa vijana"...peanuts

I supported Cord, and even though it was appalling when they lost, i felt at ease knowing with devolution in both manifestos, my backyard wont have to look up to Nairobi to develop.

If jubilee is for devolution, let it show leadership and stand by its cause. A referendum would further empower governors in super awesome ways sth i don't approve until they (the governors) are vigorously tested but if the resistance persists, governors will have this on a silver platter.....

My comments on minerals and Cortec will stay reserved, but devolution should see the day light come what may. Kenyans are tired of accusing a certain clique of people in govt of persistently sabotaging them. Or is GoK broke before the funds are even released? One wonders honestly.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

I don't like excuses, some counties have no trace of even a mere tarmac road in this modern day Kenya, no infrastructure to sustain or rather nourish a suitable business environment, no health care system, nothing at all

Did u understand why in Kitale the police were inept in containing the senseless killings? Because in a population of 2 million people, a mere 40 officers stood guard....#what a shame. Rem Tana massacres?
that's y governors want a police force that answers directly to them in some way. A fiscal count of police officers per county will greatly improve security rather than having lip service on security when there is non.

Why do we have 90% of our universities in central, Nairobi and Nakuru etc until lately when devolution of the same institutions started?
A good step but some regions still fall way behind. Some sections of this nation are rich in both human and land resources but are bogged down by illiteracy, lack of a vision or i don't know what term i would use to pass the sombre state of affairs. A dark cloud surrounds them and only devolution will enlighten this sleeping giants to fire up their engines.....
GoK na kazi kwa vijana ---- initiative is waste of time considering it doesn't increase productivity. Some very odd jobs one wonders how they coined the term "Kazi kwa vijana"...peanuts

I supported Cord, and even though it was appalling when they lost, i felt at ease knowing with devolution in both manifestos, my backyard wont have to look up to Nairobi to develop.

If jubilee is for devolution, let it show leadership and stand by its cause. A referendum would further empower governors in super awesome ways sth i don't approve until they (the governors) are vigorously tested but if the resistance persists, governors will have this on a silver platter.....

My comments on minerals and Cortec will stay reserved, but devolution should see the day light come what may. Kenyans are tired of accusing a certain clique of people in govt of persistently sabotaging them. Or is GoK broke before the funds are even released? One wonders honestly.

You have asked some very pertinent questions lakini kupata majibu itakua nongwa!

Meanwhile the delaying tactics continue:

Tough rules to delay county cash pay-out

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo has said she will not release the Sh210 billion for counties unless they fix their budgets. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By Ally Jamah
County governments have two weeks to fix their budgets or miss out on the Sh210 billion allocated to them by the National Treasury.

Delays to access the funds could disrupt services in counties, particularly since they now have additional functions to discharge.
Controller of Budget Ms Agnes Odhiambo advised county governments to expunge wasteful allocations in their budgets, including hefty perks for governors and members of county assemblies (MCAs).

Odhiambo was addressing a meeting between governors and Deputy President William Ruto in Nairobi yesterday to resolve the devolution row. Cheserem was also present.

This comes after a report by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) revealed that only 15 counties had balanced their budgets .

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Tough rules to delay county cash pay-out

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

kenyans including Ab-Titchaz et al are delighted at their efforts to detribalize the kenyan forum from just being a platform where the mentioning of mere tribes e.g kamba, kikuyu, kalenjin. Etc.. is done as a hobby and have instead chose to tackle issues rather than worshiping politicians because issues is what the common mwananchi/wanjiku is interested in, issues is what drives and keeps the the needs of the common man fulfilled.

Even people that have found a need to articulate their issues using lawlessness, need their mouths fed and stomachs full as one man once said a revolution cannot succeed on a hungry stomach as well as a run-down mental psychological effect!

Before even anyone proceeds to analyze the above post, there is already a biased attempt to influence the minds of people using a timid type of seduction that lacks an in-depth insight of what currently drives the Kenyan culture and society by believing that the very problems facing the average Kenyan today countrywide is as a result of the kikuyu domination, but there are so many other challenges facing the average Kenyan now.

While we know Kenyans have been cheated election after election by politicians who after being voted into power, afterwards seek to bargain for themselves to gain certain positions in government and power and wealth.

Before county governments have operated without a framework and have been run-down by individuals in different government dispensations. All run-down institutions especially failed health systems and government institutions are not as a result of the current leadership

In 2008, The kibaki regime helped push for a new constitution which was widely regarded by a big percentage of kenyans, yet leaders owe Kenyans an explanation why five years later, the country is still failing to adopt a constitutional order.

Despite there being committees that have been adopted, to help steer the process which seem to be statically retained by factors of ethnic divisions and the common denominators of lawless political campaigns the same kind of committees which if they fall in the wrong hands could easily become machineries for suppressing thought on current political affairs from the common mwananchi while politicians that have in the past triggered genocides walk scott-free, in and out of the corridors of justice.

This kind of mix-up is indeed demonstrating a fallacy of governance within african justice and political systems.


With this same kind of seduction, an ordinary person can be mislead that the emergence of sprawling slums eg kibera in langata constituency Mukuru in makadara is a result of the kikuyus dominating political life social life and intellectual life. Politicians in power can easily determine the destiny of a country which was witnessed in 2008 when post election violence rocked the country.

The country has also gained some stability and a sense of calm owing to the peaceful conclusion of the march 4 polls.

Based on what happened in a Kisii funeral a fortnight ago, is an expression of the abysmal depths of misery incompetent leaders at the county level can inflict on grieving Kenyans. An accident involving twelve secondary school students is indeed an unfortunate incidence that is not man-made or rather the doing of the government or jubilee (if remembered ordered for their immediate evac to a nairobi hospital), yet to popularize one's campaign for political mileage in such an environment in the current democratic dispensation and in the 21[SUP]st[/SUP] century is shameless manifestation of african hitlerism.

Even though democracy is a good achievement for our country, it is also evident that the benefits of a strong central government are now being felt and missed.

The trick is always keep devolution small, nice, discreet, and a professional outfit, which will proof beneficial in the coming years where all nepotism, greed, corruption, and ethnic discrimination will be history

Anyone should be able to hold a position anywhere countrywide which is what independence is all about.

Wanjiku is becoming more poorer but raving politicians are only interested in wasting valuable time issuing petitions in court, running the show in court-battles, referendums and sharpening wanjiku's expressive and demonstrative power of championing for their rights to put flags on their luxurious SUV's, retain excess vehicles that is to be fuelled by the tax-payers, demands for lavish lifestyles, and travels abroad rather than solving the issue surrounding their poverty and help wanjiku overcome it.

Ironically, in the current scenario, it has become increasingly easier to unite the people of kenya and serve the mwananchi than it is for political psychopaths to tribally divide kenyans.

One day in my travels across the earth I met a sage who advised me that in politics there is no
victor nor vanquished..coz the day we see it that way, will be the end of a just society as we
know it.

That has stuck with me for the rest of my life.

For KE to move to higher heights, this should be the rallying call. In this instance I believe
genuine devolution coupled with political goodwill, will see Wanjiku realise her dream of living
in a Kenya that champions the interest of the down-trodden first. It is my humble prayer and
wish, that this will happen in KE regardless of who occupies the house on the hill.

I submit.

 

[Kabaridi]

I don't like excuses, some counties have no trace of even a mere tarmac road in this modern day Kenya, no infrastructure to sustain or rather nourish a suitable business environment, no health care system, nothing at all

Did u understand why in Kitale the police were inept in containing the senseless killings? Because in a population of 2 million people, a mere 40 officers stood guard....#what a shame. Rem Tana massacres?
that's y governors want a police force that answers directly to them in some way. A fiscal count of police officers per county will greatly improve security rather than having lip service on security when there is non.

Why do we have 90% of our universities in central, Nairobi and Nakuru etc until lately when devolution of the same institutions started?
A good step but some regions still fall way behind. Some sections of this nation are rich in both human and land resources but are bogged down by illiteracy, lack of a vision or i don't know what term i would use to pass the sombre state of affairs. A dark cloud surrounds them and only devolution will enlighten this sleeping giants to fire up their engines.....
GoK na kazi kwa vijana ---- initiative is waste of time considering it doesn't increase productivity. Some very odd jobs one wonders how they coined the term "Kazi kwa vijana"...peanuts

I supported Cord, and even though it was appalling when they lost, i felt at ease knowing with devolution in both manifestos, my backyard wont have to look up to Nairobi to develop.

If jubilee is for devolution, let it show leadership and stand by its cause. A referendum would further empower governors in super awesome ways sth i don't approve until they (the governors) are vigorously tested but if the resistance persists, governors will have this on a silver platter.....

My comments on minerals and Cortec will stay reserved, but devolution should see the day light come what may. Kenyans are tired of accusing a certain clique of people in govt of persistently sabotaging them. Or is GoK broke before the funds are even released? One wonders honestly.

livefire
I remember one time at #TEA i went ahead and gave a stinging reality about the same issue on security and inabilty of security machinery to avert intra-border threats and massacres the scale of Tana, but there was a certain point that still went on to recommended the force.....
......IMHO The journey to Devolution should be a careful one lest the 47 counties sre plunged into the same effect caused by years of poor governance....
...where also (governance) in the current kenyan context should mean more than travelling abroad with huge delegations at-least to source for investements, and do economic research, while basic services such as health-care improvement continue lie pending and unallocated....
...it will be only sane type of leaderships at county level that can overturn the misfortunes that the country's roads and health infrastructure has faced in the past under a national governemnt......but devolution will fail if, there will be referundums only on petty issues expecting kenyans to go the ballot to push forward the agendas of tribal chiefs

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

livefire
I remember one time at #TEA i went ahead and gave a stinging reality about the same issue on security and inabilty of security machinery to avert intra-border threats and massacres the scale of Tana, but there was a certain point that still went on to recommended the force.....
......IMHO The journey to Devolution should be a careful one lest the 47 counties sre plunged into the same effect caused by years of poor governance....
...where also (governance) in the current kenyan context should mean more than travelling abroad with huge delegations at-least to source for investements, and do economic research, while basic services such as health-care improvement continue lie pending and unallocated....
...it will be only sane type of leaderships at county level that can overturn the misfortunes that the country's roads and health infrastructure has faced in the past under a national governemnt......but devolution will fail if, there will be referundums only on petty issues expecting kenyans to go the ballot to push forward the agendas of tribal chiefs

The solution is very simple...have a Judicial system that works wherein people get sued when they
misgovern. Muhimu ni watu waende jela na tuache lip service na political patronage/interference.
You have to put fear in people and the only way is people to start doing time for crime in the civil
service or any other place of office.

 

[Edzeame]

The solution is very simple...have a Judicial system that works wherein people get sued when they
misgovern. Muhimu ni watu waende jela na tuache lip service na political patronage/interference.
You have to put fear in people and the only way is people to start doing time for crime in the civil
service or any other place of office.

Most of these public servant officers were employed during the Kibaki-raila era, and when they have committed graft, it becomes difficult to charge in court because they will start to say that their tribe is being persecuted. tribalism and corruption to date still remains a tough monster to slay. When you want to investigate corruption in high places, it brings to mind a case where a whole tribe gathered under a committee had to rally behind tobiko for his salvation.

Most of these public servants in office today were forwarded by committees that had cord and PNU, it buffles to see cord turn around and castigate them. it is only that the new and reformed arm of government the judiciary is still learning the intrigues of current dispensation, otherwise it should be the last institution to allow cord propaganda within its ranks. in short ule mvutano wa cord na jubilee should not rear its ugly head there and must always be a professional outfit.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Deputy President William Ruto and Isaac Ruto clash again

[TABLE="width: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Ruto (centre) joins Governor Ongwae (left), his deputy Maangi (right) for a jig at Riagongera Primary School on Sunday. [PHOTO: Kenan miruka/STANDARD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

By KENAN MIRUKA

Updated Tuesday, August 27th 2013 at 00:02 GMT +3


KENYA: Deputy President William Ruto and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto clashed publicly yet again over the push for a constitutional referendum on devolution.

The two met at Riagongera Primary School in Bomachoge Chache constituency during the homecoming party for Kisii County Deputy Governor Joash Maangi where they sharply differed over the referendum issue.

The Deputy President who was flanked by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi maintained there was no need for a referendum because the Jubilee government had set aside 40 per cent for devolution in its manifesto and they are ready to fulfill the promise.

"Our stand is clear on this matter. Why should you buy an item worth one shilling at Sh1000? The referendum is a costly affair and governors should know that devolution is not about them but about moving resources to the grassroots. Devolved funds for roads and schools channeled through the constituency are meant for the grassroots so why would governors want to have control of this?" posed the deputy president.

He maintained the constitution was clear on the implementation of devolution and accused those pushing for the referendum of plotting to alter the system of electing a president.

"The CDF is part of devolution and instead of demanding that such funds be reverted to counties, we should push for more resources to be channelled up to the ward level," he added.

Speaking earlier, the Bomet governor said the push for the referendum was meant to ensure funds reached the grassroots and that counties were empowered to carry out development projects including building schools.

"This referendum will be operation "Pesa Mashinani" and it is unstoppable. Those saying Kenyans are tired of voting are fooling themselves because this time we shall be voting for ourselves as Kenyans and not for leaders. I am still in Jubilee but my push is about issues and MPs should concentrate on their mandate and stop meddling with the referendum issue," said Ruto.

Scientific method

Murkomen said he initially supported the referendum but beat a hasty retreat on realising it would be sabotaged by MPs. He proposed a scientific method of determining allocations to counties starting next year.

"I fully support devolution but there is a danger that MPs will use Article 203 of the constitution to share out the 40 per cent set aside for devolution between themselves, governors, senators and county reps. Let's find an alternative settlement to this matter," said Murkomen.

The deputy president who was touring Kisii for the first time since the March General Election was given a warm welcome by local leaders led by Governor James Ongwae and MPs Simon Ogari (Bomachoge Chache), Joel Onyancha (Bomachoge Borabu), Chris Bichage (Nyaribari Chache) and Mary Otara (Women Representative).

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Deputy President William Ruto and Isaac Ruto clash again

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Push for referendum still on, says Governor Isaac Ruto

Updated Thursday, August 29th 2013 at 00:06 GMT +3
By Rawlings Otieno, Wilfred Ayaga and Karanja Njoroge


Kenya: Chairperson of the Council of Governors Isaac Ruto has dismissed reports of an agreement to abandon the push for a referendum, hours after a secret meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta's political adviser.

But six governors from Rift Valley allied to the Jubilee Coalition said they had suspended the push for a referendum after a meeting in Nakuru yesterday.

"We met this morning as governors from Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Narok and Nakuru and agreed to reconsider the push for a referendum," said Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, claiming partisan party interests had infiltrated the push for increased revenue allocation to the counties.

In Nairobi, Bomet Governor Issac Ruto said the decision to hold a referendum was taken during a meeting with all the governors and there had been no meeting to reverse the same.

"I have no such mandate to call off the referendum because we all agreed as governors and there has been no such meeting over the same to reverse," Ruto told a hastily convened press briefing last evening in Nairobi after reports of the meeting surfaced.

Earlier, after a meeting at Upper Hill, Nairobi, with the president's adviser on political affairs Joshua Kuttuny, who is also a key ally of Deputy President William Ruto, the Bomet Governor had appeared to soften his stand.

Ruto had said he was willing to give dialogue a chance to end the stalemate on devolution.

He added concerns from Jubilee coalition supporters had forced him to re-evaluate his earlier hardline stance regarding governors' demands. "We have to be open with one another. It does not matter whether we eventually agree to a referendum or not," he said.

Based on fairness

Ruto, however, clarified that his change of tune does not mean that he had given up on the referendum calls, and said that any negotiations would have to be based on fairness to the counties.

"Devolution has to work and there is a possibility of a solution to the current stalemate if we engage with the national government," Ruto said.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Push for referendum still on, says Governor Isaac Ruto