Let Governors Oversee Security, Odinga Tells Gov’t

Mr. Odinga said that the national government was unable to assure Kenyans of their security despite allocating huge budgets to the security docket.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader said that the Governors and the county administrations have a greater role to play when it comes to security.

“The government has been unable to mitigate security threats in the country. It should immediately devolve a certain level of security roles,” he said.

“Why do we need to continue hanging on old security systems that are not working. Why do we need to have them if they cannot assure us of our security?”

Mr. Odinga said that the recent terror attacks among them the Garissa University college, Mpeketoni, Mandera and Westgate attacks are an indication that the Jubilee administration is overwhelmed by the security function.

Okoa Kenya Referendum Bill

He called on President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to support the Okoa Kenya campaign in order to allow Governors chair the county security committees.

Odinga, who was speaking during the launch of the Okoa Kenya Referendum Bill at the Bomas of Kenya, said; “Governors are an important ingredient in fighting insecurity in the country, let them be chair the county security committees.”

His sentiments were echoed by former Vice President and CORD co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka who said that the government has been unable to secure the country adding that the number of those massacred in the Garissa University College was doctored by the government.

“The number of those killed in Garissa University was higher than the 148 government figure,” he said.

Their sentiments come just a day after Governors called for the devolution of security functions and the placement of the Administration Police officers under their office, a request that devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru vehemently opposed.