Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has warned politicians from the neighboring counties to keep off campaigning for the referendum in the county.
Mbugua said that leaders from Bomet, Kiambu, Narok and Kericho were now traversing the area, drumming up support for the referendum to increase allocation of funds to the counties.
“Leave Nakuru people alone,” the former administration police commandant said over the weekend in Naivasha.
“You should respect boundaries and campaign for the referendum in the areas where you were elected as leaders. Nakuru people do not need interference from people who do not even fight for their rights.”
Mbugua accused the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) of riding on the council of governors’ plan to have the constitution changed to increase funding to the devolved governments.
“Ideally, the calls for a referendum should come from the wanainchi (the people) and not from the political leaders,” the Nakuru boss said.
“However, in this case it is actually the politicians who are forcing the referendum calls into the people, which is not right.”
Mbugua argued that it was too soon to call for constitutional changes, saying that two years was too short a time to start criticising the government.
“The time frame given to implement this constitution is too short. It is Kenyans who agreed to this constitution and telling them to change it after such a time clearly indicates that they have selfish interests,” he added.
The governor, who was flanked by other Nakuru political leaders, denied claims that they were being forced by the top Jubilee bosses to reject the calls for referendum.
“We are making the decision based on our own judgment. We feel that it’s wrong and it’s not needed at this time.”