You should have read the constitution before vying for office – Mutula Kilonzo to Governors

juma chrispinus

July 10, 2018 11:26 AM

I am sorry but you can't be immune to arrests.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior has waded into the discussion on the immunity request vouched for on Monday by the Council of Governors’ Chairman Josphat Nanok, demanding that governors be shielded from arrests while in office.

Speaking to a local TV station Tuesday morning, the Senator told off the county chiefs, adding that the immunity is only permitted to the president, and as such the matter should not waste Kenyans’ time.

“The immunity for the president was only to avoid incidences of creating instability in the country. We created a constitution for one president and several governors. Not so many small presidents across the country. So the governors cannot enjoy what is purely for the president.

“Governors are CEOs of the counties and therefore they are required to account for what they are given by the National Treasury. We need to ask CEOs when everything goes wrong. So if they authorize the use of public funds, then they are responsible both while in and out of office,” noted the Senator.

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He added: “If the National government is committed to fighting corruption in the country, then the governors should wake up and join the war, not abet it by demanding immunity. You should have read the constitution before vying for office, I am sorry.”

Mr Mutula was reacting to the demand by the council of Governors on Monday, who now want immunity against prosecution for the period they'll be in office, just like the head of state.

Issuing a statement in defense of Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’, the county bosses accused the National Government of orchestrating arbitrary arrests against them with the aim of embarrassing them, and not necessarily fighting corruption.

According to governors, every time they are arrested, paraded before media and locked in, county operations remain in limbo.

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