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3 Governors opt out of Devolution Conference claiming to be "too poor"

Authors:

Miriam Mwende

Can't afford it, too expensive

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Council of Governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya and his deputy Mwangi Wa Iria during a past presser at State House (PSCU)

Three governors have opted out of the 2019 6th annual Devolution Conference scheduled to begin on Monday on claims that they cannot afford it.

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Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Fahim Twaha (Lamu) and Salim Mvurya (Kwale) have refrained from paying the Sh2 million fee requisite for every Governor wishing to participate in the annual event.

Whilst the three claimed that their counties are "too poor" to afford the fee, the Senate Committee on Devolution pleaded with them to reconsider saying that their withdrawal would be a disservice to residents of their counties.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu (Twitter)
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu (Twitter) Pulse Live Kenya

6th Annual Devolution Conference not a personal matter

Led by Committee chair John Kinyua (Laikipia Senator), the senators further claimed that the withdrawal also attests to the failures of the three as sitting governors.

"The annual devolution conference gives stakeholders the opportunity to review performance of county governments, therefore, the withdrawal is a wrong indicator that they think that the counties they run are private entities," Mr Kinyua stated.

Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha during his swearing in ceremony (Twitter)
Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha during his swearing in ceremony (Twitter) Pulse Live Kenya

The Senators added that the three have a right to withdraw from the 6th DevCon on their personal capacities but not drag their counties into their personal matters.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua pleaded with his governor, Ms Ngilu, to reconsider the position and join other governors and Kenyans in celebrating devolution.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya (Twitter)
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya (Twitter) Pulse Live Kenya

He was supported by Kwale Senator Isa Juma Boy who equally pleaded with Governor Mvurya.

Senator Boy asked the governor to quit moping over his failed bid to get the Council of Governors chair position and move on.

Authors:

Miriam Mwende

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