Africa-Press – Kenya. The debate surrounding the creation of more counties has continued with some former governors throwing their weight behind it.
Judicial Service Commissioner Isaac Rutto has even proposed the scrapping of Nairobi County.
Rutto said Nairobi should be placed under the management of the national government.
“We have got to start a debate on Nairobi, should it be a county or a special metropolis like Washington DC,” he said during an interview.
“The national government is much better placed to deal with Nairobi we have all seen what it can deliver,” he added.
The former Council of Governors’ (COG) chair argued that Nairobi being a county cannot address the serious challenges facing the residents, as it requires ‘special’ attention in terms of the resources it is being allocated.
On his part, former West Pokot John Lonyangapuo said counties ought to be increased to guarantee fair representation.
Lonyangapuo with the increase in population there was a need to consider adding the number of counties.
“As long as we share the cake, it doesn’t matter the number of children,” he joked.
But, Rutto said increasing its number from the current 47 may not be viable now.
He suggested that only larger counties, which include Kakamega, Nakuru and Kiambu, should be split.
“If you check the Hansard this was our view in Naivasha during the constitutional process,” he remarked.
The sub-counties, he noted, should be capped at an average of five in each county.
Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama has proposed the creation of five new counties Kuria, Teso, Mount Elgon, East Pokot and Mwingi.
In his Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2022, Kitayama proposes that the new five counties will be hived off regions where minority communities are stifled by dominant ones.
Clause 5 of the Bill mandates the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to delimit the additional counties from Migori, Busia, Bungoma Trans Nzoia, Baringo and West Pokot and Kitui, respectively, within six months of the commencement of the Act.
However, according to the Constitution, creating additional counties would require a popular vote in a referendum once Parliament successfully approves the Bill.
Another proposal has been presented to the dialogue team by some nine MPs from different counties to seeking to increase the number to 56 arguing that they feel marginalized.
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