By PSCU
In a move that is likely to generate heated debate, President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday met governors elected on the Jubilee Party and its affiliates where they agreed to elect Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya as the Council of Governors chairman.
Governor Mvurya, who defected from the opposition and won re-election with an overwhelming majority, has previously served as deputy chairman of the CoG for two terms. Jubilee controls majority of the counties.
Addressing the governors at State House Nairobi, Uhuru said although the lobby is supposed to play an important role in managing the affairs of devolution, it has in that the last five years been marked by confusion, which was mostly created by those who served as chairs of the CoG.
“We have been elected on a shared platform. Let us work together for the betterment of our people,”he said.
The President said good inter-governmental relations between counties and the national government will benefit all Kenyans.
“I am asking that this time we start on the right foot. Let us not be people who engage in confrontation,” said the President. “Do not make the Council of Governor a venue for competition; make it truly a venue for developing issues for consultation.”
Deputy President William Ruto said Kenyans have given Jubilee Party an overwhelming mandate. “We have increased our numbers because the people trust Jubilee with devolution. That was a clear mandate,” he said.
He said 62 per cent of governors belong to Jubilee, which also controls 54 per cent of Senate and 61 per cent of the National Assembly.
“We, in Jubilee believe in devolution. We are going to transform this country through devolution,” he said.
Earlier, Uhuru chaired a Jubilee Parliament Group meeting where the party agreed on the leadership in Parliament.