A promise to lead a strong push for a referendum, as well as his consistent statements against the Treasury’s delayed disbursements to the devolved units catapulted Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya to the helm of the powerful Council of Governors on Monday.
The Kakamega governor was elected to replace Turkana’s Josphat Nanok following the governor’s decision not to honour a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ made in December 2017 to have Mr Nanok relinquish the leadership to Kwale’s Salim Mvurya in July 2018.
Mr Nanok refused to quit, saying, the council did not provide for a transition clause, and instead offering himself for a second and final term.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has been elected as the fourth Chairman of the powerful Council of Governors (COG) lobby.
His Vice Chairman is Murang’a’s Mwangi wa Iria who replaces Kirinyaga’s Anne Waiguru. Makueni’s Prof Kivutha Kibwana is Chief Whip.
Bungoma’s Wycliffe Wangamati will chair Finance, Planning, Economic Affairs and ICT committee. Kisii’s James Ongwae will chair human resources, labour and social welfare committee.
Kericho’s Prof Paul Chepkwony will chair gender, youth, sports, Culture and social services. Bomet’s Dr Joyce Laboso will chair education committee.
Tharaka Nithi’s Muthomi Njuki will be in charge of Agriclulture as Moses Lenolkulal will be in charge of arid and semi-arid areas.
Kilifi’s Amason Kingi will be in charge of legal affairs, human rights, inter-governmental relations, security and foreign affairs.
Narok’s Samuel Ole Tunai will manage tourism and natural resources while Nakuru’s Lee Kinyanjui will deal in urban planning, housing, development, lands, infrastructure and energy.
He said: “The council will purposely endeavour to drive the referendum discussion by engaging stakeholders.”
Proposed amendments
To sustain and shape the referendum debate, the governors have formed a committee to study the 2010 Constitution, as well as the proposed amendments so as to suggest their own.
The committee is chaired by Prof Kibwana and Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi. The two governors are among the country’s most respected legal brains.
The county bosses want to take advantage of the March 2018 handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Odinga, which has been said will lead to a referendum, to push their own plebiscite agenda for more funds to the devolved units.
Mr Oparanya also sent a warning shot to the Treasury, promising a bruising war on the disbursement of funds.
“We want to tell Treasury that under my term, it will not be business as usual, especially when it comes to flow of funds to the counties,” Mr Oparanya said.
He also promised to ensure that the thorny issue of e-procurement under the Integrated Financial Management System (Ifmis), which has almost always ground operations in the counties to a halt, is addressed.