Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has always been on the same page as his party leader Hon Raila Odinga. They have always spoken the same language.
In the revelation of what was contained in the handshake between Mr. Raila Odinga and the President Uhuru Kenyatta , Raila explained for the amendment of the constitution to prevent future division of the country basing on the presidential election.
The former Prime Minister Raila Odinga speaking in Kakamega during the Governors’ forum he proposed the 3 tier system of governance. He said this was the ideal system for the country in addition with the Parliamentary system. This means that the citizens will be stripped off their powers to elect the President but it will be the duty of the Members of Parliament.
But Joho has raised with a different opinion regarding the idea of constitutional amendment.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and civil society organizations in the county on Wednesday differed over the levels of government that Kenya should have.
Mombasa governor Hassan Joho speaks before the building bridges initiative team as they seek to collect views on various issues on governance and development. #NTVToday @zeynabIsmail. pic.twitter.com/AAWYyzYUwF
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) December 5, 2018
While Joho proposed the creation of a three-tier government to add to the national and county governments, the CSOs led by Haki Africa said this will be an unnecessary extra burden to Kenyans.
Joho said Kenyans want to go back to the Bomas Draft Constitution which had proposed 12 regional governments, and the retention of the 47 county governments.
We must allow devolution to work and thrive – Governor Joho. #NTVToday pic.twitter.com/Y5pI7AJa7h
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) December 5, 2018
“There is no harm in creating a third tier of government which can be allocated 30 per cent of the national revenue and the counties remain with the 15 per cent and the national government will have 55 per cent,” Joho split.
He spoke at the School of Government in Mombasa on Wednesday where the Building Bridges team held a forum to collect views from Mombasa residents.
Haki Africa’s Hussein Khalid said though devolution has done more for otherwise forgotten places in the country than the national government would have, there is no need for an additional tier of government.
“Two are enough,” he said.
He noted already the two tiers have seen Kenyans overburdened with tax as both the national and the county government want to collect levies from their residents.
Haki Africa also wants the number of National Assembly members reduced to a maximum of 150 from the current 349.
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