www.Kisii.Com: Syndicated news from only reputable sources [Nation, and Standard Newspapers, Kenya Times, KBC, etc.]
Coalition to harmonize drafts says PM
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 05 August 2008 07:55
" We have the constitutional amendment bills in parliament but the coalition intends to marry the Bomas and the Kilifi drafts and come up with a document that satisfies both sides of the political divide" he said. Raila added that the enactment of a new constitution would pave way for implementation of the desired radical reforms towards improvement in the Health, Education and the infrastructural sector.
The premier made known the government progress in the controversy riddled constitutional debacle during a meeting with stakeholders from Gusii land who raised pertinent issues affecting communities in the area. Raila told councilors during a meeting at a Kisii hotel before heading to a fund rising town that the new constitution would empower the civic leaders following outcry that cap 265 of the local government authority act was faulty.
He said the constitution as promised in the pre election pledges would address the sourcing of allowances for the civil leaders who felt that the current laws technical empowered chief council officers over the leaders. The premier urged the councilors to spearhead the national healing and reconciliation efforts at grassroot level now that the country had reverted on the path to rebuild her tattered economy following the post election crisis.
Raila who was on his maiden visit to Gusii land was accompanied by cabinet Minister Chris Obure (Roads), Paul Otuoma (Fisheries) and Dalmas Otieno (Public Services) and Assistant Ministers Omingo Magara (Trade), and Richard Onyonka (Foreign Affairs). Other Members of Parliament were Paul Outa, James Gesami, Charles Onyancha, Colins Ochieng, Eng Fred Gumbe Geoffrey Asanyi, Robert Monda and Chris Bichage among other top government officials from the area.
He announced that a series of provincial stakeholder's forums to deliberate on the development agenda would commence across the country to strategize possible inroads for economic progress. Raila said the regional conference would be used to showcase the unexploited prospects through deliberate efforts aimed at empowering the private sector and encourage entrepreneurship.
" We want to showcase the provinces to both local and foreign investors because the grand coalition government wants to encourage entrepreneurship to propel the development agenda" he said. He told the business community in the larger Gusii land to exploit their business prowess to invest locally noting that the Kenyans contributed the larger chunk of the capital base that drove the economy compared to foreign input.
He observed that "for the country to grow at a pace that could absorb the ever growing number of unemployed youth, a conducive environment for investment was necessary to expand the labour market. The Premier reiterated his assurance that the grand coalition government was committed to clear huddles including red tapes and corruption adding that graft in the police force may soon be a thing of the past.
Raila who had a meeting session with teachers from the region pledged to forward their concerns over the disparities in their salary packages with those of civil servants. He said a sessional paper to "harmonize the pay inconsistencies among the public servants was on course" and pledged to also fast track and rationalize the promotion of A level teachers. Raila was responding to concerns from Nyanza Chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers Geoffrey Mogire who said the promotional transition of at lest 5,000 teachers had stagnated due t lack of clear policy guidelines for untrained P1 staff.
The Premiers entourage was expected to preside over a fund drive organized by the Kitutu Chache Member of Parliament Onyonka towards expansion of Kisii Catholic Parish.
