The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop, Jackson Ole Sapit on Monday called for a proper audit of the Kenyan Constitution before any amendments are made.
Ole Sapit who was commenting on the “Punguza Mizigo” Initiative spearheaded by former Presidential candidate, Ekuru Aukot at Busia Agricultural Training Centre said it is only through an audit that areas to be retained or discarded can be identified.
He said: “We have tested our constitution for nearly ten years now. There are areas Kenyans are saying have not worked well for them and areas they feel have worked well.
“Let us have a proper audit and say; what has served Kenyans well let us support and improve it, what has not served Kenyans well let us remove and discard it.
Ole Sapit said the high wage bill is a great burden to the country hence Kenyans should seize any opportunity aimed at reducing it.
“One sure thing that is evident to all of us is that the wage bill of this country is very high and a burden to taxpayers.
“If there is any opportunity to revisit the constitution with a view of reducing it so that more resources are channeled towards development rather than recurrent expenditure then we should support it,” Ole Sapit urged.
The ACK head also waded into the revenue allocation impasse between Legislators and Senators urging the two houses to be objective when allocating revenue to the national and county governments.
“The Senate and the National Assembly should find out the total cost of devolved functions and ensure that revenue is allocated proportionately to each so that people don’t miss the services at the county level due to lack of funds.
“Whatever the national government is undertaking should also be allocated revenue proportionate to it. If we do that we shall have a harmonious country,” he said.
He cautioned that the supremacy battles pitting the two houses of Parliament are not healthy for the country and will only serve to create disharmony.
“We want to see harmony instead of constant wrangles with no arm championing the plight of common wananchi,” he added.
Recently the country has witnessed the Senate and the Council of Governors move to court over the 2019 Division of Revenue Bill.
This follows The National Assembly’s rejection of the Senate’s amendments to the bill seeking to raise the shareable revenue to Sh.335.7 billion against the National Assembly’s proposed shareable revenue of Sh.310 billion for counties.
By Ejakait/Kimandhi/KNA
