PRESS STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE EXTRA ORDINARY COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS MEETING
The Council of Governors held an Extra Ordinary Council meeting on 24th September, 2020 to deliberate on pertinent issues affecting County Governments and resolved as follows:
1. Re-opening of Early Childhood and Development Education
(ECDEs) and Vocational Training Centres (VTCs).
Following the pronouncement by the National Government on the re- opening of Primary and Secondary Schools, the Council has reviewed Guidelines developed by the Ministry of Education in consultation with County Governments on Health and Safety Protocols on Reopening of ECDEs and VTCs.
These guidelines have been disseminated to all County Governments to enhance preparedness for reopening of the learning institutions.
We hereby wish to notify members of the public as follows:-
• All ECDEs shall re-open one (1) month after the re-opening of the Primary and Secondary schools to allow for time to monitor the rate of infection and management of the pandemic at the County level;
• County Governments shall undertake random testing of COVID-19 on ECDE Children before re-opening. In this regard, we urge the Ministry of Health to support Counties with testing kits;
• That All VTCs will re-open at the same time as the National
Government learning institutions.
2. Dissolution of Parliament
The Council is cognizant of the Advisory by the Chief Justice on the dissolution of Parliament for failure to enact legislation on the implementation of the two-thirds gender principle.
As a Council, we are alive to the fact that this is a weighty matter and whereas we advocate for the respect of the Rule of Law, we are aware dissolution of parliament may not be the answer. The Council therefore has resolved to seek a legal opinion to inform our next course of action.
Of importance to note is that the Council is committed to be part of the National conversation that will ensure a resolution of this matter once and for all.
3. Approval of County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA), 2020
We note that the Senate approved the 3rdbasis revenue sharing formula on 17th September, 2020.
We therefore urge the National Assembly to expedite approval of the formula and Senate to expedite the approval of CARA, 2020 to enable disbursements of funds to Counties.
I reiterate to the public that County Governments have not received a cent of this year’s finances. Services and projects are negatively impacted and a whole quarter (4 months) has gone by without any development being undertaken. The situation is very dire.
4. Participation in the National COVID-19 Conference
The Council of Governors will participate in the upcoming National COVID-19 Conference scheduled for Monday, 28th September, 2020.
It is our hope that this conference will enable us to candidly assess our progress in dealing with the pandemic.
Also that we shall as a nation take stock of the experience accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic and harness best practices that will be our point of reference for any future pandemics.
The County Governments will also use the opportunity at the Conference to launch the County Governments Re -engineering and Socio-Economic Recovery Strategy that will inform the annual planning and budgeting processes that start in October 2020.
Conclusion
As we await the 12thPresidential address on the COVID-19 situation in the Country, County Governments commit to support the pronouncements that will be made by H.E the President.
They commit to work collectively to provide the necessary push needed to enable the country get back on its feet economically.
Lastly, we encourage members of the public to continue wearing masks properly, keeping social distance, sanitizing and washing hands regularly so as to avoid a resurgence of COVID-19.
Asanteni Sana!
H.E. Hon. FCPA Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya,
EGH, CGJ
Chairman, Council of Governors