17/01/2022
GOVERNORS’ CAUCUS:
PRESS STATEMENT
17TH JANUARY 2022.
This has been a consultative meeting between governors and The 5th, HE Raila Amolo Odinga to reassure him of our support and also to discuss the way forward with regard to the August elections. There were thirty of us present and a couple of apologies.
Broadly, we looked at The 5th in the following areas:
1: SUPPORT FOR DEVOLUTION;
Since the advent of devolution following 2013 elections, The 5th, has been consistent that “Devolution must succeed and must be strengthened. Whether devolved units get strong or are weakened, whether devolved units get more, less or zero funding is tied to this election. Whether devolution survives at all is tied to this election.
Nobody should entertain the illusion that devolution is entrenched enough not to be disbanded; that devolution faces no threats; that devolution is naturally here to stay.
Should the instruments of power fall in their hands, the people who opposed Devolution, who opposed the 2010 Constitution, can disband devolved units. It has happened once in this country before. It can happen again.
Between 2013 and now, the progressive steps we have made survived largely because there is a President who believes in and supported the new constitution and Devolution otherwise there was real danger of devolution being made to fail.
In the coming election, the man who led opposition to the new constitution, who led opposition to Devolution, who led opposition to BBI is running to be President of Kenya.
Devolution and the entire 2010 constitution face grim threats that we must not take lightly.
As governors, we strongly feel that Devolution will only be in safe hands under a Raila Odinga-led government; hence our declaration of support. We are keen to help H.E Raila Odinga ascend to the presidency even if only to preserve Devolution.
2: PEOPLE-FOCUSED POLITICS AND CAMPAIGNS:
As governors, we have noted that The 5th is keen to establish a people-driven campaign focused on the needs of each region. We have seen this in the Azimio la Umoja consultative forums where people shared their concerns. We are here to express readiness to lead that people driven campaign agenda. We do this well aware that leaders govern the way they campaign. Campaigns that embrace people and the diversity of their leaders lead to government that embrace and focus on the people and their diverse leaders.
3: PEACEFUL ELECTIONS:
We have taken note of the commitment by H.E Raila Amolo Odinga to peaceful campaigns and peaceful elections. We have taken note of his restraint and voice of reason. We are here help build a water tight alliance for Project Kenya; an alliance to prevent the country from falling in the wrong hands and backsliding into monolithic and dictatorial conditions.
We are keen to lead Azimio team’s aggressive grassroots mobilization in every county all the way to the wards through peaceful and progressive campaigns. This time, we have no time to waste on pre-election or post-election standoff and violence that have wasted our country in past elections. We will do everything within our power to help Kenyans understand that we are one people with one destiny.
4: FUTURE OF THE NATION:
As leaders, we feel strongly that the stakes are too high in the coming election for us to leave anything to chance. The August election will determine whether a number of the progressive steps we have made since 2010 will survive and take care of our children or not. We are convinced that Kenyans will be safe in the hands of H.E Raila Amolo Odinga.
We are therefore agreed that we will be part and parcel of the journey to a united, peaceful, progressive and prosperous Kenya as envisaged in the Azimio la Umoja.
Having had in depth deliberations on our future as a country and the future of devolution; and noting is significance to this nation, we do hereby endorse the candidature of Raila Amolo Odinga.
SIGNED
JANUARY 17, 2022.
