A section of CORD governors has said coalition leader Raila Odinga is forcing them to join the Okoa Kenya referendum push at the expense of the Pesa Mashinani initiative spearheaded by the Council of Governors.
The governors, speaking to the Star on condition of anonymity, said they would end up incurring double expenditures if the coalition does allow them to pursue their own parallel plebiscite. The two have some of the same objectives, such as greater allocation of funds to counties.
“We’re in a dilemma because at some point we are forced to spend heavily to facilitate the two separate initiatives during events in our counties. It is important CORD realises that although we are part of them, we have our own cross to bear,” a Cord governor from the Coast complained.
He said Cord has not set up clear financing mechanisms and depends on governors to mobilise support on the ground for its referendum agenda.
Cord says it has collected 1.4 million signatures from registered voters, and aims for three million or more.
“This doesn’t mean we don’t support our part leader but we need a serious talk to reach agreement on how to foot the bills for raising awareness and collecting signatures,” he said.
Governors who met President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday said later that they were undeterred in their determination to carry on with their own initiative — despite the President’s persuasion and entreaties.
Concerning their complaints about Cord, governors are said to be uncomfortable with the very large and costly delegations that accompany the former prime minister to county events.
“I do not have any problem in funding a lean delegation but in most cases you find hangers on who have nothing to do with the core agenda of the visits,” complained another Cord governor from Western Kenya.
Speaking separately, the two both said there is no clear coordination between the Cord secretariat and the counties regarding Raila’s tours, resulting in financial quandaries.
The issues over funding and dual initiatives emerged as Raila stepped up his petition drive.
Yesterday he was in Meru where he accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of misleading Kenyans by saying that increased county allocations will lead to higher taxes. The push by both Cord and governors calls for an increase in funding to counties from 15-45 percent.
“Mimi bado sijakufa kisiasa, na nina nguvu zaidi na zaidi (I have not died politically and am still powerful),” said Odinga
He also spoke at a petition drive at Kathageri Market in Embu East subcounty. He was accompanied by Senators James Orengo and Johnstone Muthama, legislators Junes Muhammed and Fred Outa, ODM county official Moses Wamuuru and Embu council of elders chairman Andrew Ireri.
Most governors attended their quarterly meeting in Nairobi yesterday where confirmed their own push for a referendum, despite two days of State House meetings with President Kenyatta who is using charm and persuasion in stead of earlier more combative tactics.
Council of governors chairman Isaac Rutto, who led the State House meeting Wednesday evening, said they are on track with their referendum agenda.
“We met the President to consult and we shall continue to engage with the executive, but that does not mean that we are being compromised on our agenda to protect devolution,” Rutto said.
Attending the State House meeting, in addition to Bomet Governor Ruto, were Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), David Nkendienye (Kajiado), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Ken Lusaka (Bungoma) and Peter Munya (Meru).
Ruto said the Council of Governors has already printed the referendum petition registration books in the drive for a million signatures required for a national pubic votge.
“We are rolling out a massive signature collection drive on September 20 in Kakamega before proceeding to Bomet the next day to make a referendum a reality for Kenyans,” Ruto said.
Oparanya yesterday said the referendum push was unstoppable because are at the heart of devolution.
“We had a fruitful (State House) meeting, but our position has been to let Kenyans decide on their fate if the state is reluctant to address their issues,” he said
– the-star.co.ke
