NASA governors approve coalition’s plans to set up people’s assembly

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Raila Odinga. PHOTO: FILE.

Nairobi, KENYA:NASA governors have approved the Coalition’s plans to set up a People’s Assembly and initiate a review of the Constitution particularly to safeguard and strengthen devolution in line with the pronouncement by Principals earlier this week.

In a statement, Governors who met earlier today in Nairobi agreed to take the proposal to their county assemblies for approval and mobilize grassroots leaders to the conference when it is convened.

The People’s National Assembly will comprise Governors and Deputy Governors; members of the Senate, National Assembly and County Assembly; religious, trade union and civil society leaders; and representatives of youth and women organizations.

It is to constitute a convention to be held in Nairobi to discuss and determine the pathway to democracy and constitutionalism and to restore legality and the rule of law.

The convention shall be tasked in making decisions and recommendations to achieve democracy, constitutionalism and to restore legality and form any bodies or organize other platforms for purposes of attaining its declared objectives.

During the meeting presided over by NASA principals Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula, the governors were also briefed on and approved the Coalition’s plan to form a special committee to review the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

This is said to address the following matters for purposes of making necessary constitutional amendments on Protection of and safeguarding devolution, architecture and structure of the Executive and Parliament, Exclusivity and discrimination in the allocation or distribution of public resources,review the performance of national security organs and the abuse thereof by the executive structure and the establishment of an independent electoral body,creation of an enabling and conducive environment for economic growth and development to deal with poverty, unemployment and problems of women and the youth.

The governors expressed deep concern about the operations of the devolved units and cited frustration with the non-disbursement of funds to the counties. They pledged to back any efforts, including constitutional amendments that will shield counties from the stifling hold of the National Government.

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