Members of Parliament from Kitui County have affirmed their support to the reforms proposed in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Report, with an appeal that the County be allotted additional constituencies.
They said the need for additional constituencies was to make it commensurate to its geographical size and population, noting that the county deserves the constituencies owing to its population of 1.14 million people and its vast land area of 30,570 square kilometers.
The 10 legislators who were led by the Kitui County Governor Charity Ngilu issued a joint statement in Nairobi Tuesday when they met the Wiper Democratic Movement Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka to discuss the BBI report.
In a press statement to newsrooms, the legislators drawn from the Wiper Democratic Movement, Jubilee and Chama cha Uzalendo parties said their support for the BBI proposals was pegged on the increased opportunities for different communities to participate in the governance of the country.
“We are also supporting the document as it has increased the representation of women in the National Assembly, the Senate and the County Assemblies,” said the leaders.
The Parliamentarians said they are also happy with the increase of funds devolved to County Governments from the current 15 per cent to 35 per cent, and the creation of Ward Development Fund of at least five per cent of the County budget.
“We are also recommending that the green grams crop be included as one of the cash crops to benefit from the proposed Cash Crop Stabilization Fund,” they stressed.
On Covid-19, the leaders urged the residents of Kitui County to observe the protocols set by the Ministry of Health in order to stop the spread of disease.
It was also resolved that all leaders and leaders of Political Parties from the County including Mr. Kalonzo should spearhead consultations with other leaders nationally so as to ensure that the interests of Kitui County that were identified in the forum are included in the final BBI resolutions.
The leaders who signed the joint statement included Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka, Governor Ngilu, Senator Enoch Wambua, Woman Representative Irene Kasalu, and MPs Dr. Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), Dr. Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South), Mwalika Mboni (Kitui Rural), Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), and Edith Nyenze (Kitui West).
Others were Charles Nguna (Mwingi West), Dr. Gideon Mulyungi (Mwingi Central) and Paul Nzengu (Mwingi North).
By Bernadette Khaduli
