“We want to know our job security from President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga who were the team leaders during the referendum campaigns”, said the chiefs.

Lead by the Chairman of Kisumu County Chiefs, senior chief Mr. Peter Akeyo Nyambok claimed that the fate of provincial administration is yet to be restructured but the government have not declare whether the local chiefs will retain their jobs or not.

According to the new constitution, the law indicate that the “Provincial Administration system will be restructured”. This, however has not been clearly explained in the constitution whether the local administration system will be abolished or not.

“We were convinced and cheated by politicians during the referendum to mobilize the public to vote for the new constitution promising that our work will be safe,” said Nyambok.

The chiefs threatened to join national strike if the government fails to assure them of their work under the new constitution. “We demand the National Administration and Coordination Bill of 2012 be amended in parliament within 14 days,” they argued.

Nyambok said the provincial administration system should remain in the National Government to facilitate and coordinate effective work in the 47 counties.

“It is the chiefs who enable service delivery to reach residents up to the village level,” they argued adding that if the system is abolished then ordinary people especially the physically challenged persons will be marginalized.

The chiefs challenged politicians to desist from discussing provincial administration issues in public rallies and funeral gatherings to gain mileage but urged them to amend the issues in parliament.

“We are aware that the public overwhelmingly supported the retention of the local administration for effective service delivery,” said the chiefs.

Nyambok further accused some members of committee of experts who have fixed negative opinion on the roles of provincial administration terming it bad taste on the line of their duty and department.

“Our detractors should know that we are also voters and have direct link with the Kenyan votes,” he said, adding that members of the public should be left to decide on their fate than few individuals with vested interest.

However, the Secretary General of Kenya Civil Servant Union, Kisumu County Mr. David Osodo said the union is fully behind the chiefs in demand to know their fate of work in the new dispensation.

Osodo said the government should come out clearly and address the plight of the Provincial Administration instead of giving conflicting statements over the matter.

“Let the government prepare for nationwide strike if the provincial administration issue is not well addressed before the end of strike notice issued,” Osodo reiterated.