Athi, Igembe South 17th September 2019.

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has said that counties will support a referendum that will bring more money to devolution.

The Governor who Co-chairs referendum committee at the Council of Governors alongside Makueni Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, said that most functions have been devolved and therefore there is need for more resources to follow these functions, in the division of national revenue.

Speaking during the burial of late Mzee Peter Gichunge Lituri, the father to Meru Senator Hon. Franklin Mithika, Governor Kiraitu noted that the Council of Governors has drafted the Ugatuzi Initiative geared towards constitutional amendment, to ensure more funds are allocated to Counties, where they expect a minimum of 45% of national budget to be given to the devolved units.

"We have heard a lot of talk on Punguza Mzigo and the Building Bridges Initiative, popularly, BBI, but as Governors we have vowed that we shall only mobilize our people to support the initiative that aims to bring more resources to the grassroots, which is the counties where all development and service delivery is happening," he added.

Governor Kiraitu pointed out that functions like water, agriculture health and infrastructure have all been largely devolved to Counties, yet, the bulk of the funds is left in Nairobi with little to be done there.

His sentiments was echoed by his Deputy Hon Titus Ntuchiu, who noted that Counties are almost getting crippled due to lack of money for development.

On his part, Deputy President Dr. William Ruto said that Jubilee Government will deliver all the promises it gave during the campaigns.

He noted that all the 130 projects that Jubilee has initiated in Meru over the last six years, will be completed in the next one and half years.
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