The Third Way Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot has received a big boost in the push for the referendum after Homa Bay County Assembly endorsed Punguza Mizigo’ Bill.
The Majority Leader Walter Muok has since said that the county assembly is ready to support the proposal seeking to reduce the number of members of parliament.
According to Muok, the new bill is aimed at empowering devolution. He noted that over the past years, Kenya has not benefitted from devolution because of power remaining at the national level and now it is their turn to take it to the people through the proposal.
He noted that the Bill has rooted for the creation of avenues for the development of wards.
The increased amount of funding to the wards is also another reason Muok cited for the endorsement of the Bill following the verification of 1milion signatures by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“In my opinion, the Bill strengthens devolution by recognizing wards as the lowest unit of development. Creation of ward development fund and increasing allocation of funds from the national government to county government will enhance implementation of development projects by county governments,” Muok said, as quoted Standard.
Siaya Senator James Orengo, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, Alego-Usonga MP Samwel Atandi, and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi have, however, poked holes in the Bill.