Governors are now demanding that the Senate should be strengthened bestowed with veto powers on all bills as the BBI consensus gathers pace towards a referendum.
The decision was arrived at was one o on Tuesday during the conclusion of governors’ two-day retreat in Naivasha to dissect the BBI report.
Further Governors propose introduction of deputy ministers, to be picked from Parliament.
Other proposals include the Summit, the National Council for County Legislators and the Council of County Governors to be configured in the Constitution.
They also want regional blocs be entrenched in the Constitution.
In a statement read by COG chair, the body made a raft of demands on various issues on the BBI report,
On the disbursement of funds, it made the following recommendations:
- That the disbursement schedule as prescribed by legislation should be submitted to the Central Bank of Kenya by the Speaker of the Senate for implementation within 14 days of the passage of the Division of Revenue Act. We propose that in addition to the 35 per cent all monies held by parastatals in national government departments performing devolved functions be transferred to Counties.
- That the County Governments ensure that not less than 10 per cent of the total budget is allocated to agriculture, livestock, and fisheries function and that not less than 30 per cent of the total budget is allocated to the health function and 2.5 per cent to the youth function.
- To speed up the flow of funds to the counties, the governors proposed that the Office of the Controller of Budget decentralized to all the 47
- National Treasury to be established as an independent institution to serve both levels of government. Two IFMIS systems should be adopted; one for the National Government and another for County Governments.
- Wants county governments be authorized to borrow for development purposes.
ELECTIONS
Governors are of the opinion that the IEBC be devolved to the 47 counties, that in public appointments, in order to implement the principle of inclusivity focusing on ethnic, cultural, geographical, and gender.
deputy governors
To remain as running mates to the governor and should be of either gender.
Security
COG recommends that county governments be involved in security matters at both national and county levels in the National Security Advisory Council and implement the County Policing Authority Independent Commissions.
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police Service Commission to continue operating as is in the current
They also propose the removal of collective criminal responsibility in the management of resources at the county government level to align with the principle of personal criminal culpability.
The recommendations come at atime when ODM leader Raila Odinga has indicated that BBI IS A done deal and just afew corrections here and there to ensure proper capture of issues.
Elsewhere women aligned to the handshake have echoed their support for the report.
Led by Homabay mp Millie Odhiambo they challenged the group allied to deputy president to come clear on what they are againt,they support the 47 women senators ,recommendation that if governor is male then should consider either gender for the DG.
