Baringo governor Mr Benjamin Cheboi has ditched his support for the ‘Pesa Mashiani’ referendum push.
Mr Cheboi explained his withdrawal from the referendum campaign by saying that his people needed development and not politics.
He said he prefers to see a motion in parliament that would increase the annual budgetary allocation to counties from the current 15 per cent instead of going the referendum route.
He urged his fellow governors still keen on the referendum to abandon the course and wait for Parliament to enact a law that will facilitate an increment of funds for counties.
Governor Cheboi said Kenyans have indicated that they were interested in development instead of political bickering.
“I made my decision to decamp from the Pesa Mashinani referendum drive after realising that it was unpopular among the public,” said the governor who has been in the forefront of the campaigns.
Speaking in Mogotio town during the graduation of 299 students from 11 polytechnics in Baringo County, Mr Cheboi said the push for a referendum plebiscite will distract governors and the country from development goals.
“The referendum is going to distract us from achieving our development projects. As you the public have rejected it, I am not supporting it either.” Mr Cheboi said.
Mogotio MP Prof Hellen Sambili assured Governor Cheboi that National Assembly was ready to initiate a parliamentary initiative to help increase funds ofr counties.
The MP said she had recommended a parliamentary initiative to change section 203 of the constitution in order to increase County kitty.
-nation.co.ke
