Seven more county assemblies in the Rift Valley are likely to approve the Punguza Mizigo Bill
More than half of the 47 county assemblies are expected to approve Ekuro Auko's staff and cost-cutting Bill to move achieve a referendum.
Aukot expressed satisfaction after the Uasin Gishu County Assembly became the first to approve his Bill.
“The assemblies should not be intimidated by anyone. We urge others to follow suit and approve the bill because it’s what the country needs to deal with the many serious challenges we face, Aukot said.
Nandi, Turkana, Baringo, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu county assemblies are expected to debate the bill within the next two weeks and most if not all are expected to approve it.
Nandi Speaker Joshua Kiptoo said, "We will do public participation but all indications are that most MCAs and residents support it."
MCAs in Uasin Gishu voted unanimously to pass the bill last week after two weeks of public participation.
Uasin Gishu is home to DP William Ruto who has opposed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which is also expected to lead to a referendum. The majority of the MCAs appear to have taken the DP's position on the BBI initiative.
The Committee prepared the report following public participation forums across the 30 wards in the county.
The bill aims to reduce the number of MCAs and constituencies.
“Everywhere we went the residents said they wanted the bill passed to cut down costs of running government,” Patrick Bundotich, chairman of the committee on of delegated legislation.
It also proposes scrapping the position of deputy governor, introducing a one-term presidency of seven years and increasing funds allocated to counties from 15 per cent to 35 per cent.
Chairman of Muslim Imams and Preachers in North Rift Abubakar Bini said they support the decision by Uasin Gishu to approve the bill because most residents of the region supported it during public participation forums.
“The move by the MCAs is a clear indicator that Kenyans are tired of the heavy burden put on them by the 2010 Constitution which should be reviewed as detailed in Dr Aukot’s bill," Bini said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
