[UAH] Standard Digital News - Kenya : Echoes from the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Jomo Kenyatta battles on majimbo

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000086070&story_title=echoes-from-the-jaramogi-jomo-battles-on-majimbo

By Oscar Obonyo

NAIROBI, KENYA: The storm raised by some members of the National Assembly on whether or not to abolish the Senate, rekindles the post-independence machinations under founding PresidentJomo Kenyatta that eventually killed the devolved system of government.   

Coincidentally, the current drama is unfolding under the rule of Mzee Kenyatta's son, President Uhuru Kenyatta. The script and timing may be different, but the fears and concerns over dilution of devolution are the same.    

In 1963, the Kenya African National Union (Kanu) Government of Mzee Kenyatta was reluctant to execute a foreign Constitution handed over to them by the colonial Government, or the Majimbo Constitution, as it was popularly referred to. Presently, the apparent push against devolution has been fashioned as a supremacy battle between the National Assembly and the Senate.

Assented to Bill

Last Tuesday, the President assented to the Division of Revenue Bill, which allocates Sh210 billion to county governments. The Senators see this as an attempt to starve the county governments of cash and frustrate devolution altogether. The Senate wanted Sh258 billion allocated to the counties.

Same as in the Government of the senior Kenyatta, the implementation of devolved system of government has run into fresh impediments under Uhuru's Jubilee government, following his assent to the Division of Revenue Bill.

At independence, Kenyatta found an appropriate and ardent fixer to the "majimbo" system in the person ofJaramogi Oginga Odinga – Kenya's first Vice-President. Jaramogi has previously confessed that he was personally convinced a regional system was the worst.

Duplication of functions

"It inevitably produced duplication of functions, erratic and uncoordinated planning. There was an additional danger that money would be spent not on essential administration and services, but on politics.

On prestige spending," he says in his famous book, "Not Yet Uhuru".   Then, Jaramogi believed in a unitary system of Government and viewed "majimbo" as a tool of the colonial settlers out to protect their property and balkanise the country along regions and tribal communities.

The scheme spearheaded Jaramogi, also minister for Home Affairs in charge of the provincial administration, irked officials of opposition Kadu with former President Daniel arap Moi taking Jaramogi to court.    

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Echoes from the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Jomo Kenyatta battles on majimbo
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000086070&story_title=echoes-from-the-jaramogi-jomo-battles-on-majimbo

Then, president of the Rift Valley regional assembly, Moi alongside Ronald Ngala of Coast region, led protests accusing the Kanu government of usurping the functions of the regional assemblies.

 In his publication, Politics & Government in Kenya: The Majimbo Constitution, Dr Adams Oloo states that the first two years of independence were dicey and full of readjustments.

Same as in the current scenario where the likes of Deputy President William Ruto and allies, who campaigned against enactment of new Constitution have joined forces in Government, Kadu folded up and penetrated the Kanu Government.