Wajir Senator Dr Abdurahi Ali Kabreta has challenged BBI to revisit the issue of having security devolved to the counties and instead have it returned to the National Governnent since it’s a sensitive matter.
“It was also my proposal that security should not be devolved since it is a sensitive sector which requires neutrality and delicate balancing which locally established governments may lack due to clan based nature of our Governance system at the local level”, he said when he joined other leaders from the North Eastern region for a Stakeholders’ Meeting ahead of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally in Garissa Town tomorrow.
The meeting deliberated on several issues affecting the North Eastern, including insecurity, the ongoing education crisis, various development projects, and the need for equitable sharing of county resources.
Other than security which was part of his personal submissions to the BBI discourse, Senator Kabreta made the following other proposals;
He strongly opposed the proposal to form a National Health Commission because it is against the spirit of devolution which aims to bring services closer to the people and it may bring the current problems we are experiencing with TSC in terms of unreasonable and illegal mass transfer of personnel.
In terms of development, the Senator proposed the setting up of milk and meat processing factories where processed meat and milk can be exported through Wajir International Airport, completion of Garissa-Mandera road and construction of sewage systems in all Major towns especially Wajir.
On education, he proposed the implementation of former Education CS Amina Mohamed’s proposal of lowering grades for those joining teacher training colleges in order to get homegrown teachers to sort the education crisis in the region once and for all.
“I support devolution since it brings services closer to the people but i strongly oppose the removal of constitutional term limit for Governors since it is undemocratic and denies the youth a chance to lead”, he stated.
According to Senator Kabreta leaders resolved to speak with one voice on issues affecting the region, and to prioritise common solutions.
We also committed to ensure that at least one of the top positions in the national executive will be held by a Somali, he added in a brief posted on his Facebook Page.
The Senator further confirmed that leaders unanimously agreed that North Eastern will fully rally behind the BBI initiative, led by Garissa Senator Yussuf Haji.
“I urged all citizens of NEP and Garissa who can attend tomorrow’s meeting to turn out in large numbers and witness our presentation of the memorandum of issues from NEP leaders”, he said.
