Senators Should Allow Devolution to Grow - Wetangula

Devolution is at the heart of majority of Kenyans and it is the responsibility of relevant constitutional organs to defend and protect it.
 
The coming into being of devolved units early last year has realized enormous development and this, if well protected; Kenyans will enjoy more fruits that come with Devolution.
 
However, it is disturbing to see some forces ganging up to frustrate, intimidate and try to humiliate Governors in the name of holding them accountable. This is not the spirit of devolution.
 
Yesterday’s remarks by the Deputy President Mr. William Ruto at a function in Murang’a which was attended by Senators, Members of the National Assembly and MCAs touching on the integrity of Governors were just the tip of the iceberg. It send out a clear message that Jubilee administration is not for Devolution.
 
The DP and his group outrightly intimidated Governors particularly when speakers (including himself) incited Members of County Assemblies against the Governors. The meeting in Murang’a was like a lynch mob trading their guns against Governors accusing them of all manner of wrong doings.
 
The support for MCAs to rout Governors was in bad taste and the Deputy President ought to weigh his words when it comes to such matters. Each Governor is individually accountable for any wrong-doing. One Governors’ mistake should not be made to be a ‘collective responsibility’ for all the Governors. We must stop this cheap and unpopular politics.
 
Of concern is the manner with which some Senators are using their offices to harass and intimidate Governors and their staff. Annoyingly, is the fact that some of these Senators tend to speak with authority as if they speak for the Senate Leadership. This must stop. A Governor is not an appointee of anyone, they are elected just like Senators and Members of the National Assembly are and each one of these categories must respect the other.
 
 Senators should desist from making statements that could have far reaching implications especially on constitutional matters that involve Devolution. The Senate leadership should provide guidance on what Senators should say in public to avoid them from over-stepping their mandate. Senators must stick to their role as spelled out in the constitution and should do their work without interfering with that of the Governors.
 
As the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), we shall not stand aside and look as some forces try to kill Devolution in the name of providing checks and balances on county bosses. Devolution must be left to grow and Governors allowed to exercise their constitutional mandate of fostering development at the grassroots level.
 
CORD will not allow any organ of the government to frustrate Devolution for personal gains. This is not why Kenyans voted for the current constitution; they supported it so as to have resources trickle down to them from the seat of power.
 
Endless supremacy battles will only slow down the Governors’ work and in the end kill Devolution completely.
 
Sen. Moses Wetangula
CORD Co- Principal
Senate Minority Leader
Senator Bungoma – County.
5/5/14

Devolution in Kenya: Prospects, Challenges and the Future ~ Speech by Rt. Hon Raila Odinga at LSK Annual General Meeting

DEVOLUTION IN KENYA: PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES AND THE FUTURE

SPEECH BY

Rt. Honourable Raila Odinga, Former Prime Minister of the Republic Of Kenya during The Law Society of Kenya Annual General Meeting, Leisure Lodge, Mombasa, August 16th, 2013

The Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya,

Members of the Council of the Society,

Attorney General

Senior Counsel present,

Invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I consider myself well-travelled across the width and breadth of our country.  I have travelled across Kenya as a political activist, a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister for Energy, for Roads, a Prime Minister, and now, an opposition leader. From that experience, I got convinced beyond doubt that Kenyans want Devolution of power and resources.

The story of devolution in Kenya is of a people’s struggle for justice and the expectation for equality, equity, and inclusion. It is a fight against domination, subjugation, and exclusion.

Against slavery, Abraham Lincoln told the American people…..”A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure; permanently half slave and half free.” I can say with certainty that Kenya too cannot endure permanently half poor and half rich.

As was the war on slavery, devolution is an effort to address the wrong principle that says….you will work and toil and earn the bread, but I am the one who will eat that bread…Every part of Kenya must get a fair reward from its taxes. There is no better way to achieve this than through devolution.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

Devolution unfortunately has powerful enemies in high places. Devolution is running into a brick wall of a political class that has benefited from an over centralized system of government.

It is being undermined by a status quo that has captured the instruments of the state and has used them to secure privileges for themselves and their children, to the exclusion of everyone else.

The good news is that the rank and file of our people is determined to make Devolution succeed.

In the few months that the Counties have taken off, our people have been engrossed in learning the art of government. They are getting used to making own decisions.

They are moving away from the culture of blaming others for their problems. They have tried to take their future in their own hands.

A few weeks ago, voters in Makueni County rejected the backward talk that they needed a Jubilee senator so they can be close to the National Government. They proudly elected Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior knowing well he was going to join the opposition. The people of Kenya no longer feel that they have to be close to central government to progress. Waiting for help from Nairobi has begun to look like a deep prehistoric practice that no one wants to remember. 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

This is the kind of freedom that devolution brings. It is the freedom that the controllers of the centralized system are hell bent on killing.  This is the fight our governors and senators have embarked on. They are pushing for a country where the National Government exists only to facilitate the people and protect them from outside aggression.

The over-centralized system of the last 50 years bequeathed us little in terms of progress and plenty in corruption. Corruption helped those in power to hold hungry citizens at ransom and lead them down the garden path.

By centralizing the tendering for roads, the purchase of drugs, the construction of houses, the provision of amenities like electricity, those who control the central government were able to strike corrupt deals that kept them financially powerful and able to control the rest of Kenyans.

KANU went many desperate steps further. It instituted a modern day slavery, which saw the State use even relief food as a tool to control how people voted and how they related with the State.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

It’s said… “History Is So Beautiful It Makes You Cry.” So let me tell you abit of where it all began and why we should be wary at the pattern of events.

At independence, our founding fathers settled on a devolved system after it became clear that the political system of the country was already leaning towards a centralized dictatorship.

This dictatorship was in the hands of those who had accessed colonial education and economy. The losers were those who had missed out on colonial education.  Ironically, those were the ones who had fought the British to a standstill and forced them to negotiate.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t sufficient understanding of the benefits of majimbo even among those who stood to benefit from it.

The masters of the status quo moved in and misrepresented the system as divisive, anti-unitary and anti-national.  They intentionally bad mouthed majimbo, derided it at every opportunity and sabotaged it at every corner. Eventually, the beneficiaries of the devolved system themselves participated in its dismantling. The end result was an exclusive political and economic dictatorship that took fifty years to dismantle. Unfortunately, the noises have begun again.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

The history of devolution is a constant and sad reminder of the dangers that face this nation. It teaches us that the forces of political autocracy and economic exclusion will, if allowed, frustrate any system of government tailored to create equality among the peoples and regions of Kenya.

It reminds us that there are those who took over Kenya from the colonial administration and are intent to own it and exploit it exclusively for their benefit and that of their cronies and families.

Their key tool is denying the outer regions control over resources and decisions so that everyone has to beg the central government even for basics like food and medicines.

Today, the beneficiaries of status quo are ganging up again, citing the same excuses invented about fifty years ago to kill devolution. They say some regions are not ready. They say some governors have given themselves presidential looks.

They paint governors as extravagant. They want governors who are in reality heads of their own governments, to seek clearance from central government before travelling abroad. They say the Senate has no role, is inferior to the National Assembly and should in fact, be abolished.

Rather than empower the people to help themselves, they want to retain critical services like rural electrification and roads at the centre so they can dish them out at will as a show of benevolence.

You know, what happened once can happen twice. So we say; buyer, beware.

Fortunately, the Constitution of 2010 is a product of wide consultations with Kenyans and intense public education. No wonder the forces of status quo are having a rough time with the people.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Governors for fighting for the decentralization of the construction of roads. I beseech them to fight for the decentralization of other critical areas like electricity, purchase of drugs and pharmaceuticals.

This will eliminate the corruption perpetrated at the centre and which is used to oil the political machine that tramples on the people. More importantly, it will put the governors in charge of economic development in their regions.

To attract investment and ensure economic growth, you need a good network of roads, a steady supply of reliable, efficient and affordable electricity, and a healthy and educated workforce. No governor is going to guarantee these if they are ran by a separate authority.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

I agree that our Constitution does not explicitly spell out how responsibility should be shared between Counties and the National government.  But none of the challenges are insurmountable if we managed the process with good faith and if we embarked on honest dialogue between with all cards above the table.

The forces of status quo are however using every challenge as a reason to delay devolution by one more day, one more month, one more year and forever. The intention of the centrists is to help devolution die a slow, painful death while all the time pretending to be trying to resuscitate it.

I believe strongly that the spirit of enterprise that has propelled Nairobi must spread outside.  It must take off in Kwale, Malindi, Kakamega, Moyale, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Wajir, Marsabit and all parts of Kenya.

Examples abound everywhere. New York remains immensely big as a city and a state in the US. Los Angeles is big, so is Chicago.

But none of these regions has ever entertained the idea that they are in any way more important than or can do without Washington, DC or the USA. All they do is power the US economy.

In Germany, you get another example of an economy driven from multiple centres. Munich is an economic powerhouse. Frankfurt is a financial centre. The Ruhr brings together a cluster of industrial cities; Berlin is the capital and artistic hub. Together, they power a bigger and powerful Germany that has withstood recession to which the rest of Europe succumbed.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

Kenya too must create an economy that fires on all cylinders and runs on multiple engines by supporting many more sites and sources of economic growth.

Empowering our counties so they innovate, attract outside investment; raise their own money and spend it in the ways they need is the way out.

We must rise above the fear mongering and remind the forces of status quo that the purpose of devolution is not to dismember the nation but to allow different solutions to different problems in different circumstances.

This is why I want to appeal to the legal fraternity to support the push by the governors to amend article 203 (2) of the Constitution to raise the minimum revenue threshold due to county governments from 15 to between 40 and 45 per cent.

I equally appeal to you to support our senators in their push to amend Chapter Eight on Legislature and Chapter 12 on Public Finances to give them a greater say in legislations and sharing of revenue.

At a time the National Government can barely support itself, we cannot continue hoping that it will somehow help the rest of the country. Our future is in stronger, successful devolved units.

Thank You.

PM Raila Odinga Opens Bi-National Kenyan Governors Summit

Dallas, Texas USA
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has appealed to America’s private sector and government to help Kenya’s devolved units succeed by directing investments to Kenya.

While officially opening the meeting between governors from the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy and investors in Dallas, Texas, Mr.Odinga said America has always stood with Kenya at times of significant transition like the one the country is undergoing today.

Mr. Odinga down played the recent decision by President Barack Obama not to visit Kenya saying it did not mean the ties between Kenya and the US had been downgraded.

“The ties between our two countries are strong as they have always been. Don’t worry so much that President Barrack Obama never stepped in Kenya during his recent tour of Africa. I am sure the President appreciates the depth of the ties that bind our people and our countries,” Mr. Odinga said.

“The truth is; the boundaries between our people and our countries are overwhelmed by our connections. Kenya’s prosperity will benefit  America. Our security certainly contributes to America’s. The steady march of our democracy certainly advances human rights, which is a
pillar of America’s value systems,” he added.

The former PM said that because America has always stood with Kenya at significant moments, it was “therefore not a surprise” that Kenyan governors are in the US as they seek to implement devolution which he described as, the most significant provision of our new constitution.

He called on US investors to support Kenya’s governors by directing investments to various counties saying it would ensure equitable economic growth and create jobs for the youth.

“Governors are at the frontline of our dreams for an equitable society where development opportunities are evenly spread across the country. They are the most prominent symbols of the new order we are trying to create in Kenya. The Governors are on the ground. They are able to see directly what is working and what is not working, what needs to be retained and what needs to be fixed. Their success will be our success as a country,” the former PM said.

“We are at this forum to learn and to seek opportunities for the benefit of our country. I am here to invite the American business fraternity to join us in the exciting but complex journey of taking  power to the people through devolution,” he added.

Mr. Odinga said CORD prioritized expenditure on social programs that  it believes will transform the lives of the people, reduce poverty, improve healthcare and create jobs.

He called for investment in infrastructure, healthcare and education.

“A trained and skilled workforce will attract investments and also ensure the youth are able to compete for and get jobs. At the same time, a good network of feeder roads across our counties, coupled with provision of affordable, reliable, clean and efficient energy together  with healthcare will change the lives of our people,” Mr. Odinga said.

He said that although education is not entirely under the mandate ofcounty governments, the governors still welcome investments in areas that will promote Early Child Education, create a sound working environment for teachers and proper infrastructure in schools for the pupils. He called for investment in Agriculture which remains the main source of income for our people.

Mr. Odinga said changing weather patterns across the world, Kenya  included, means the sector cannot stand in its traditional form.“We need to set up more research institutions; to produce more quality and diseases and drought resistant seeds. We need to produce fertilizers and to pursue irrigated agriculture. We also need to process  our agricultural produce and package them for the global market. I invite you to partner with us in this too,” he said.

Mr. Odinga appealed to the governors to establish linkages and learn from America’s long history with devolution, multipartism and the culture of bipartisanship that has enabled decentralization to work in the US.

“Some of the goals we are pursuing back home require that we join hands with colleagues from other parties in a bipartisan manner. Securing Devolution requires that the governors, the senators and Members of Parliament must work hand in hand,” Mr. Odinga said.

PM Raila Odinga Hails Makueni County Voters For Electing CORD’s Mutula Kilonzo Jr To The Senate

Dallas, Texas USA

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has hailed Makueni County voters for electing Cord’s Mutula Junior as their new senator.

Mr Odinga also congratulated the Wiper Democratic Party and CORD leaders for the firm stand that ensured the coalition clinched the seat.

Mr Odinga thanked the youth who poured in Makueni in their thousands to stand with one of their own, Kilonzo Junior , and to ensure Cord won the seat.

The former PM also thanked Mutula Kilonzo Junior’s sister Kethi Kilonzo for her fight for Makueni seat, which was frustrated by Jubilee, saying it inspired Makueni residents to come out in their thousands to make their intentions known.


”I have just received good news that the Makueni people have elected Cord’s Mutula Junior. I am very happy that the Makueni people have  confirmed to the doubting Thomas that they are still ardent supporters and member of the Cord as many majority Kenyans are’ he said.

“I congratulate Junior. I congratulate the Wiper Democratic Party and the CORD fraternity for refusing to budge. This victory shows our future lies in standing together especially in times of trial, and Makueni was a big trial on our resolve and our unity,” Odinga added.

Referring to the struggle that pushed Kethi out, the former PM said the young lawyer remains a critical member of the Coalition going forward and asked her to stay focused and support her brother and the party, adding that CORD believes Jubilee will never forgive or give her rest but the  party will stand with her and the family.

Mr Odinga said CORD is determined to hold the hands of the youth and lift them to key leadership positions as shown in the coalition’s fight to put a young
man in a critical Senate seat after Jubilee ruined her sister’s chances.

He said the election of Kilonzo Junior is a win for the forces of Devolution that are determined to ensure all regions of Kenya get a fair share of the national cake out of the taxes they pay.

The former Prime Minister spoke during a dinner party organized for him and his  entourage that included governors by Kenyans residing in Texas, a head of a two day summit between the County Chief Executives and key investors.

He challenged Kenyans living in the Diaspora to help County Governments stabilize economically by investing in the country.

Raila said the country new system of governance will succeed in alleviating poverty if Governors got support from Kenyans in the Diaspora through ‘back home investments’.

‘The foreigner investors we are looking  for every time will only play a minimal role in spurring economical growth of our county economies. Some investors will invest with a set mind that part of the profits they will make, must go back to their mother countries but if a Kenyan invests back home that is a win win situation’ Raila told a team of Kenyans in Dallas, Texas in the USA.

The former PM spoke on Friday Said he ‘Kenya can only be built by Kenyans themselves no matter where they are’ he said. The Cord coalition leader was accompanied by Governors among them John Nyagarama (Nyamira, Alfred Mutua (Machakos) Josephat Nanok (Turkana),  David Ngetiany (Kajiado), Cyprian Awiti (Homabay), Ranguma (Kisumu), rasanga amoth(Siaya),James ongwae(Kisii) Amason Kingi (Kilifi)and Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia)

Also in attendance was National Assembly leader of Minority Jakoyo Midiwo and Eliud Owalo,among others, Speaking on behalf of the two day summit organizers, Raphael Atore dispelled fears that his group was harbouring political agenda in inviting only Cordallied governors.

“We have no political agenda. We are not here to campaign for Raila Odinga or party as such but we opted to invite Cord Governors because of their being in the opposition. As Opposition allied leaders they will carry out investments transparently bearing in mind their roles as the ruling coalition’s watchdogs’ he said.

He said the organizers had invited leading investors to interact with the governors and agree on best partnership modalities. 'Our main focus as Kenyans in the Diaspora now is to help our governors come up with means of at least reducing poverty rated as being the highest in Nyanza and North Eastern and Eastern parts of the Country’ said Ochieng.

He added ‘ours is to revolutionalise management of development matters for the better Kenya under devolution’ he said.

After the Dallas meeting Raila will lead his entourage to three other States in the USA.