Nyeri County Governor, Nderitu Gachagua, on Wednesday voiced support for a national referendum to push for allocation of more resources to counties.
Mr Gachagua accused the National Assembly of frustrating agreements which the governors had reached after holding meetings with President Uhuru.
“We are supporting a referendum for 45 per cent of resources to be devolved to counties. We want to come to the people. It has to be determined by the people of Kenya,” said the governor who also criticized the proposal to set up County Development Boards chaired by Senators saying the move was unconstitutional and mischievous.
He said Section 54 of the Constitution spelt out how development in counties was to be coordinated and that governors were tasked with implementing development projects.
“County Development Boards are unconstitutional. The move is mischievous. We have already passed our budgets and there is no provision for them. This is an offence to devolution,” he said also noting that Nyeri county had already put in place an Integrated County Development Plan for the next five years and wondered whether the County Senator was going to change it.
Mr Gachagua said that there were 23 other pieces of unconstitutional legislation before Senate and that the governors had decided to use all means to make ensure they are not enacted.
The Governor said they had not yet paid their staff because a bill on allocation of funds to counties was still pending before the Senate.
Gachagua, who was elected on a GNU ticket, becomes the first governor to break ranks with governors from central Kenya region by supporting calls for a referendum. His party is part of the ruling Jubilee Coalition.
ALSO READ:
Governors revive calls for a referendum to strengthen devolution
www.doitadigital.com