President Kenyatta: Governors must quit over graft

Maendeleo ya Wanawake Nairobi chairperson Martha Miyandazi (left) and vice-secretary Rahab Ndamburi in Nairobi on March 29, 2015 where they asked leaders facing corruption allegations to step aside. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• President says county bosses are public officers bound by law and must thus pave way for probe.
• Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation has also called on mentioned leaders to step aside.

By BERNARD NAMUNANE
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Governors under investigations over corruption must leave office, State House has maintained.

In a statement, President Kenyatta, through his spokesman Manoah Esipisu, said election does not insulate leaders from investigations.

“The governors should stop hiding behind the veil of being elected and obey the President’s directive to step aside over corruption allegations,” said President Kenyatta.

The President similarly sent out a message to senators, MPs and MCAs under investigations by the anti-corruption agency to step aside.

“Several governors have gone public with ill-informed, untrue and inappropriate claims regarding their accountability and obligation to submit themselves to the due process of law in regard to allegations of serious corruption directed at some of them,” said the President.

STATE OFFICERS

The directive finds room in Article 260 of the Constitution, which defines governors as state officers bound by the Public Officers Act and the law creating the EACC.

Governors were defiant that the President cannot force them out of office because they are elected leaders.

Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto said no governor would move, not unless Deputy President William Ruto quits over the case facing him at the ICC in The Hague.

Last Thursday, President Kenyatta directed all public officials mentioned in graft to step aside to pave way for investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

On Saturday, he suspended Cabinet secretaries Felix Koskei (Agriculture), Michael Kamau (Infrastructure and Roads), Kazungu Kambi (Labour) and Davis Chirchir (Energy).

Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, who just returned from official duty overseas has also resigned.

Also sent home were Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia and principal secretaries Mutea Iringo (Defence), Nduva Muli (Transport), Patrick Omutia (Mining) and James Teko (Water).

The list of affected officials President Kenyatta handed to Parliament is said to include names of governors Ruto (Bomet), Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Ali Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Peter Munya (Meru), Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Nathif Jama (Garissa), Godana Doyo (Isiolo), Ukur Yattani (Marsabit) and Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay).

Dr Kidero said: “I think the law is very clear on how the governor can vacate office, most of the governors do not know what they have been accused of.”