President Uhuru Kenyatta has told governors to stop hoodwinking Kenyans that they do not have enough funds for development.
He said in the last financial year county governments returned Sh30 billion to the exchequer which they had not utilised.
The President spoke when he made stopovers at Sagana, Kagio and Kutus markets on his way to Kirinyaga to attend the homecoming ceremony for Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.
He said it was unfortunate that governors and Cord leaders were concentrating on raising political temperatures with their calls for a referendum at the expense of serving Kenyans.
“Governors should stop their calls for a referendum and instead prudently use what has been allocated to them for the benefit of Kenyans.
After that, if they still feel it is not enough, they can then come and seat with us to discuss what can be increased,” said the President.
OVERBURDEN KENYANS
President Kenyatta said increase of unbudgeted funds to counties would overburden Kenyans with taxation to bridge the deficit.
“There is time for politicking and time to work. We don’t want to perpetually put our country in a political mood. What we require as leaders is for us to sit down, discuss and agree on what is necessary for our people,” President Kenyatta said.
He said the call by Cord leaders for the disbandment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was misplaced, as the same commission supervised elections for all the elected leaders now in office.
“If the election of all Members of Parliament including senators, Members of County Assemblies and governors now office, was conducted by IEBC, why do some people want to do away with it?” posed the President.
The President said those calling for a referendum have ulterior motives and had no interest of the country at heart.
WILLING TO TALK
He said he has always been willing to sit down with all leaders, including governors, to chart the way forward for improving the country’s economy.
On development, President Kenyatta disclosed that the Jubilee government has formulated a development strategy that will hasten infrastructure development, including increased electricity connections, road construction, and the streamlining of the health sector for the benefit of all Kenyans.
“Soon you will see the National Government launching a programme to streamline the health sector and improve health facilities,” President Kenyatta said.
National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale urged Kenyans to support the Jubilee government to achieve its development agenda and ignore the calls for a referendum, terming them ‘a waste of time’.
“There is no need to continue politicking every time. Kenyans are the ones who cast their votes in favour of Jubilee and not IEBC.
“In 2007 when the Cord leader was defeated by Mwai Kibaki he led campaigns against the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK).
“Now he is calling for the disbandment of IEBC because he once again failed to clinch the presidency,” Mr Duale said.
He challenged leaders elected on the Jubilee ticket to either toe the line and support the President agenda or quit.
Local leaders including Ndia MP Stephen Ngari and his Kirinyaga East counterpart Njogu Barua appealed to Kenyans to shun those calling for a referendum and instead support the government in its development agenda.
