Four county chiefs waver on referendum campaign

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka during a past interview. Four more governors from the Jubilee Coalition on Thursday appeared to waver in their support for a referendum only a day after nine of their colleagues denounced the campaign. FILE PHOTO | ISAAC WALE |   NATION MEDIA GROUP.

In Summary

• The sudden change of mind is likely to further shake the governors’ hitherto united push for a referendum to increase the monies allocated to county governments from the current 15 per cent to a minimum of 45 per cent.
• Mr Lenonkulal also maintained that county bosses were exploring other ways of ensuring the resources allocated to counties are increased.

By NATION REPORTER
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Four more governors from the Jubilee Coalition on Thursday appeared to waver in their support for a referendum only a day after nine of their colleagues denounced the campaign.

The four county bosses, three from Deputy President William Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) and the other from New Ford-Kenya, said they were exploring other options of ensuring more resources were allocated to county governments.

They include Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai, Mr Moses Lenonkulal (Samburu, URP), Mr Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo, URP) and Mr Ken Lusaka (Bungoma, New Ford Kenya).

The sudden change of mind is likely to further shake the governors’ hitherto united push for a referendum to increase the money allocated to county governments from the current 15 per cent to a minimum of 45 per cent.

RESTRAINED

Mr Tunai dismissed the referendum push outright: “I don’t support the referendum,” he said in a terse one-line message to Nation.

Mr Lusaka was, however, more restrained, saying the interest of governors was to see more money allocated to the counties.

“As you know, the Cord guys have already started their referendum campaigns in Bungoma. If I were to start another campaign, I would only confuse people as to which referendum we are talking about,” he added.

Mr Lenonkulal also maintained that county bosses were exploring other ways of ensuring the resources allocated to counties were increased. If that did not happen, he said, they would resume their calls for a referendum.

Mr Cheboi said he was still consulting before making his stand known.

Others said to have withdrawn their support for a referendum were governors Ali Roba (Mandera, URP), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu, URP), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet, URP), Godana Doyo (Isiolo, URP) and Migori’s Okoth Obado (PDP).

They could not be reached by phone.