GOVERNORS' REFERENDUM:

WILL GOVERNORS' REFERENDUM PUSH SUCCEED?

By Maritim Kipngetich

PHOTO: From right the Chairman of the Council of Governors Isaac Ruto, Meru Governor Peter Munya and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. The trio are the key architects of the Pesa Mashinani referendum campaign.

If there is a political agenda which has caused serious debate within the Jubilee Government, then it is the referendum which is being spearheaded by the Council of Governors whose main leaders are from the Jubilee coalition. The Council of Governors has been asking the national government to increase funds allocation to the county government failure to do so then they would go for a referendum.

The Jubilee coalition top principals considered the move for referendum to be the only way which the governors wanted to cause a political mayhem in the country. The plea from the President, Uhuru Kenyatta, and his deputy, William Ruto to ask the governors to stop the referendum issue has fallen on deaf ears with the referendum agitators saying, they would only stop if the national government accepts to increase funds to counties.

Speaking yesterday 9P.m at the Big Question Show in the Citizen Television, the Meru Governor, Peter Munya, said they would not be deterred by the national government in their move for referendum.

“We cannot be intimidated by the national government. The referendum push will continue until the national government hears our demands,” Governor Munya said.

He said if allocation will be increased then there will be no need for referendum.

He further confirmed that the signatures collection is underway. The constitution stipulates that for a referendum to be initiated it must be supported by a million people across the country.

He also said the referendum push is not for governors.

“The slogan ‘pesa mashinani’ speaks for itself. The referendum is not for the Council of Governors. It is a move which is meant to increase funds to counties,” Munya said.

Elkeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen, who was also present in the show, criticised Governor Munya in his support for referendum by saying he has no upper hand in his backyard.

“At Governor Munyas’s backyard people are opposed to referendum and I wonder why he is still of the issue when he has no support from the people who elected him,” Senator Kipchumba said.

Kipchumba said they only know one referendum which is being spearheaded by the leaders in opposition with the slogan ‘Okoa Kenya’. He termed the referendum move by the governors as a move which has no basis at all. He said Okoa Kenya and Pesa Mashinani campaigns are one and the same thing and they are likely to amalgamate in future.

PHOTO: Elkeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.

“The only referendum we know at the moment is for Okoa Kenya. The driver of the referendum is Raila Odinga while the conductor is Isaac Ruto: Raila has 24 governors supporting him while Ruto has only four governors and the two are likely decide to have one referendum in future,” Murkomen said.

The current push for referendum by the governors and the opposition has put the country into a political mood. The money which is supposed to be used to develop the country is being used by the politicians to carry out the campaign for referendum. It is, therefore, important for the politicians to know that Kenyans expect a lot from them and not campaigns year in year out.