Editor's Review

  • The Bill was passed after public participation on Friday. 
  • Siaya becomes the second county to pass the Bill ahead of the 24 required for the constitutional amendment. 

Kisumu county assembly has officially passed the Building Bridges Initiative Bill ahead of the planned national referendum. 

The bill was on Tuesday tabled by Seth Okumu, the chairperson of the Administrative of Law and Justice committee.

The passage comes after the county held a public participation forum that was conducted at the assembly premises on Friday.

According to Okumu, members of the public submitted their approval on the need for strengthened devolution and that they are in agreement with the proposal to increase of revenue allocation to 35 percent as proposed by the Bill.

The committee noted members of the public wanted solutions to problems related to gender equity proposed by the Bill are in order and should be approved without amendment.

"The public was also in approval of creation of the ward development fund which would be five per cent of the county 's annual budget as this would improve development close to the common mwananchi".

"The speaker pursuant to Article 257(6) of the Constitution of Kenya cause delivery of the certification of the approval of this honorable house on the matter of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2020 to the speaker of the National Assembly and the Senate," he added.

Kisumu now becomes the second county to pass the bill after Siaya county. 

To go for a referendum, the bill needs to be passed at least 24 counties.