This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
Published on July 12, 2019, a group of leaders from the Council of Governors, Senators, and Members of County Assemblies are planning a twin assault against the Treasury on Monday.
While some will hold a public demonstration outside the National Treasury, others will file for an advisory opinion at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.
The protest is against the national government's decision to slash revenue allocation to the devolved units from Sh335 billion to Sh310 billion in the 2019/2020 financial year.
Leaders from the Council of Governors, Senators, and MCAs converged in Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega town during the passing out of 400 community administrators and 3,500 county youth service officers.
They vowed to stay the course, with Governors Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Ali Roba (Mandera), Cornel Rassanga (Siaya), Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Mwangi wa Iria (Muranga), and Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma) in attendance.
Others included Senators Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Naomi Shionga (nominated), and Gertrude Musuruve (nominated), as well as MPs Elsie Muhanda (women rep-Kakamega), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), and Godfrey Osotsi (nominated).
According to Senator Malala, the leadership of the Senate, MCAs caucus, and the Council of Governors met on Wednesday and agreed to marshal their fellow leaders for the demonstrations.
Senator Wangamati echoed the sentiments, lashing out at the MPs for working with the national government to kill the intended spirit of devolution, adding that they are a disgrace to the electorate.
“What is happening now is a replica of what happened in 1966 when the independence government abolished senate and killed Majimbo system of governance. Devolution is here to stay and we will fight for it in the streets as from Monday,” said Wangamati.
Wangamati, who is also the Council of Governors (CoG) chair of Committee of Finance, Economic Planning and ICT, said they will also move to the court to compel the government to stop slashing money meant for counties.
