Senate: Use Impeachment As Last Resort

Senate speaker Ekwe Ethuro says as a new governance concept in the country, mistakes were bound to be made in the implementation of devolution, but challenged governors to be more prudent and accountable in the use of resources allocated to their counties.

Nyandarua County, for the launch of the county assembly’s 2014-2019 strategic plan.

The senate and the council of governors have persistently clashed on matters of oversight and use of devolved funds.

Governors on one hand accusing senators of trying to micro-manage the county governments, and the senate on the other claiming that the county bosses were mismanaging the devolved funds.

‘Let us give devolution a chance, let’s give everybody an opportunity, devolution is a new thing,’ said Ethuro. ‘As the senate, we are joined at the hip with the governors and the MCAs. We will however ask questions, we will ask for more money for you, but equally, we will ask you questions on how you use the money.’

After the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Nyaga Wambora, all eyes have been on the members of the county assemblies in the other 46 counties, with some governors forced to dance to the MCA’s tune, to save their jobs, but Ethuro advises for caution in the impeachment of governors.

The national assembly has since passed an amendment to the national symbols, emblems and names act, prohibiting governors from flying the national flag in their vehicles, as well as being addressed as your Excellency, an amendment the senate and some members of the National Assembly terms inconsequential.

Many county governments have clashed with traders in their respective areas; over increased rates and Nyandarua County is no exception.

The Nyandarua county government says it will invest a huge chunk of the devolved funds to improve infrastructure, to accelerate economic growth from the grassroots.

By Francis Gachuri and Maureen Murimi