Leaders vote to keep flags, titles

PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | FILE Lamu Governor Issa Timamy in this file picture. The Bill tabled in the assembly by Hongwe Ward Representative, James Njuguna Komu, recommended that the Governor Issa Timamy be referred to as “His Excellency.”  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• The motion also recommended that the leaders of majority and minority be given official vehicles.

By KALUME KAZUNGU
More by this Author

The Lamu county government last week unanimously passed a Bill allowing their governor and speaker to enjoy the trappings of power.

 

If the Bill becomes law, the leaders will fly both the national and county flags, while Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) shall maintain the title “honourable.”

The Bill tabled in the assembly by Hongwe Ward Representative, James Njuguna Komu, recommended that the Governor Issa Timamy be referred to as “His Excellency.”
The motion also recommended that the leaders of majority and minority be given official vehicles.

“I am happy that my fellow MCAs passed the Bill with one voice. What remains now is for it to be signed into law, so that the proposals can be implemented,” said Mr Komu in a phone interview with the Nation.

He said the quest to have the clerk of the assembly to also fly the flags, as stated in the original motion, was dismissed by the ward representatives.

The development comes just a month after Mr Komu came out publicly, accusing Members of Parliament of “persecuting devolution.”

This was after the MPs passed a Bill seeking to ban governors from flying national flags and also being denied the title of “His Excellency.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta has not ascended to the Bill and there are reports that he would return the Bill back to Parliament.

Mr Komu argued that the move by the MPs to also stop MCAs from being addressed by the title “honourable” was wrong and that they (MCAs) were not willing to accept such “harsh” working conditions.