MOMBASA, KENYA: CORD leader Raila Odinga has called on the national government to write off debts in the defunct local authorities throughout the country so that county governments are not crippled by such liabilities.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga
And Raila also criticised the formation of the Devolution and Planning ministry by the Uhuru regime arguing it has been, suspiciously, created to undermine devolution and is not envisaged in the 2010 constitution.
At the same time, the former Prime Minister urged the national government and 47 County governments to work as complementary and not competitors to ensure smooth implementation of the devolved system.
He noted that all the 48 administrative levels are provided for in the Constitution and should not undermine one another.
Addressing the 30 ward representatives of the Mombasa County Assembly in Mombasa on Thursday, Raila also said the Mombasa county government has a stake at the port of Mombasa and called for signing of an agreement with national government on how to manage the facility.
“The county governments have inherited heavy debts from the defunct local authorities and it is now prudent for the national government to write them off,” Raila said.
Mombasa governor Hassan Ali Joho outlined several challenges including inheritance of Sh2.8 billion debt from the defunct Mombasa municipal council.
Joho said there was need for national government to take over such liabilities so that the county government could start from a clean page instead of being bogged down by the debts.
Joho also said the county government is yet to receive financial support from the national government and could not implement its programmes.
“ Mombasa county government has inherited a Sh2.8 billion from the former council. It would be better if this debt is taken over by the national government so that we start from a clean page,” Joho said.
Joho said the county wanted to invest heavily in infrastructure adding that residents get only about 30 percent safe drinking water.
“We are planning to come up with a development master-plan to be implemented in phases. We also want to see how our people benefit from the port of Mombasa,” Joho said.
Raila took issue with Jubilee administration for crafting the ministry for Devolution arguing it could turn out to be a replica of the former ministry of Local Authorities which has no room in the Constitution.
He argued that such a ministry could undermine devolution in the Country. Raila said he was visiting all the 24 counties under Cord and ensure they become more efficient in service delivery than the rest.
He claimed many people still fear devolution as they think they could lose powers.
Saying those harbouring such fear live in the past, Raila said national government and devolved governments should play complementary role and not compete.
“There is a big distinction between delegated authority under the past constitution and devolution under the current Constitution. There is no provision for the ministry of Devolution in the Constitution,” Raila noted.
He challenged Mombasa County to identity areas where it could generate jobs as part from CORDelection pledges.
He cited infrastructure and industries where jobs could be created. He said Mombasa, Lamu and Kisumu have been designated as special economic zones and the Mombasa County should support implementation of such project.
By Patrick Beja, The Standard
