The Wiper Democratic Movement led by Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the idea fronted by ODM leader Raila Odinga to create a third tier of government claiming it will water down devolution.
Wiper’s executive director Jared Siso also told local dailies that their party has taken a stand that regional governments are not viable and they will reject it if it is introduced through BBI.
“Wiper is keen to ensure success of devolution, we want more resources to be devolved but not through creation of other layer of governments. Resources and leadership should be close to the people as much as possible,” Siso said.
He emphasized that the spirit of devolution was to take services closer to the people as much as possible and but formation of regional governments is nothing different the older provincial administration that was abolished with the old law.
“Why would we want again to have Kenyans for example from Turkana or in Kajiado traveling all the way to Nakuru to seek for services? Those are structures overtaken by events and as Wiper we have taken a position,” he added.
Raila is secretly supporting a push by a section of governors who in their last terms in office for the creation of another tier of government.
He has repeatedly said that regional governments should be introduced through Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) claiming it was that way even in the Bomas Draft.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also claims that some counties can not stand alone economically and so the constitution should be changed to divide the country further into 14 regions on top of the 47 county governments.
Last week, Kalonzo who spoke after chairing a NEC meeting announced that his party will not entertain any proposal to create a three-tier system of governance.
“Even as Wiper supports the BBI Agenda, it is clear that Kenya is not ready for Regional governments. In our view, what is critical for us is to strengthen Devolution and make it work for the common wananchi by creating Ward Development Fund,” Kalonzo said.
The three-tier system means the country will retain the current county governments but create another layer of regional governments.
