Devolve roads to counties, Ranguma tells national Gov’t

By George Amolo

Kisumu Governor, Jack Ranguma, wants the roads docket fully devolved to the counties to enable proper construction and maintenance of roads across the country.

Ranguma says that the money for roads should be sent directly to the counties to enable effective execution of the roads function.

The Governor, who lamented that his administration has constructing roads through their collections, stated that the money that is with the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) should all be devolved to the counties.

“Money for roads has not been devolved; we are using our own collections to build roads. This is unfair because it is unconstitutional. The money that is with KERRA and KURA should be devolved to counties,” said Ranguma.

Ranguma highlighted that counties have done much development with the little funds available to them, stating that more would be done if they were given the cash to construct roads.

He reiterated that the national government does not need to hold the money because it only encourages duplication of roles hence facilitating corruption in the roads sector.

“We should not have money up there. We are duplicating roles and responsibilities, and that money is just being eaten! When they finish with Anne Waiguru, it is KERRA where they should go to,” said the Governor.

The Kisumu Governor made the remarks in Alego/Usonga constituency Siaya County where he implored Kenyans to support devolution in order to realize the real development that they have been longing for.

Ranguma observed that devolution has bought a lot of change in terms of enhancing people’s socio-economic growth all over country, hence the need to support it.

The Kisumu Governors call for additional funds comes on the heels of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy’s (CORD) Okoa Kenya initiative, which among other things, agitates for greater funds allocation to the counties.

The Okoa Kenya draft bill which was presented to the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), on 9th November 2015, asks for increased minimum county allocation from 15% to 45% of the total national government revenue.

The Jubilee fronted Boresha Katiba initiative also champions for increased funds allocation to the counties.