Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has appealed to senators to work closely with the governors to strengthen devolution.
Speaking to the Senate committee members of Trade and Tourism who visited Busia on Friday, Otuoma noted that some functions were yet to be devolved and “We are saying that such functions should be unbundled to the Counties and for those that have been devolved, may the resources follow them at the County level”.
He stated that the counties were facing challenges where both counties and the national government were handling one particular sector of development.
“When we say markets are devolved, we have no problem with stakeholders identifying areas where the markets should be built but let us be clear on whether the implementing agency is county or national government so that there is coordination,’ he said.
The governor further stated that issues of housing and health should keenly be checked by the Senate because these were areas where there were major challenges.
Otuoma at the same time urged the senators to protect governors from being impeached by MCAs yet they were elected by voters.
“We are not saying that governors should not be impeached but for elected leaders, let the sovereign will of the people prevail across the board whether you are an MCA, MP or Governor.
He further argued that a lot of time is wasted when issues that could be solved through the Constitution are politicized.
“At times the county and the electorate lose a lot of time,” he said while appreciating the senators for protecting Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza from being impeached.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtata clarified that there was no personal disagreement between him and Governor Paul Otuoma only that their roles in serving the local residents were different. “I play the oversight role while the governor implements projects,’ he said.
The Committee led by the Vice Chair Esther Okinyuri said that the county government and the Senate should work together to deal with the challenges that the county is facing in the trade sector and ensure that they receive the amount of money expected as the border county.
“The Senate is committed to working with the county government because our interest is to protect the county government,” she said.
She pledged that the committee would follow up on most of the issues and agenda like the Cooperative Act bearing in mind that Busia County has been on the forefront in making sure they develop their citizens through belonging in different cooperatives.
Kiambu Senator Kerong’o Wathangwa who is also in the committee said that the committee plans to make sure they decongested the trailers both in Busia and Malaba towns by ensuring the trailer park is developed in the county.
By Salome Alwanda and Victoria Magar
