Governors Warn President Uhuru, State against Harassing Joho

The Council of Governors has warned the President and Ministry of Interior and National Coordination against intimidating and harassing Hassan Joho and other governors.

Led by the Councils Chairman Turkana County Governor Josphat Nanok, the governors’ took issue with the treatment of Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho after he was blocked from attending the launch of SGR in Miritini by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In a statement to newsrooms, the governors said that this was the second time in six months that the governor was harassed and prevented from attending functions in his own county, condemning the President and the state departments involved.

"While we appreciate that Kenya is in an electioneering period, State Department of Interior and National Coordination must note that the office of the Governor is a constitutional office that must be treated with the respect it deserves.

"The Governor’s office must be afforded constitutional protections. Governor Joho holds Constitutional office until the next Governor of Mombasa County is sworn in," CoG's statement read in part.

"While the National Government can exclude a Governor from its lineup of speakers at its functions, it cannot bar the Governor from attending a public event being held in his County Government and attended by his voters," the council stated.

The Council warned the Interior Ministry, accusing it of treating the Governors against the law and the constitution.

"Council of Governors affirms that the Department of Interior and National Coordination is bound by the constitution of Kenya and cannot operate like a rogue government agency. Council of Governors expects that the above rights will be enforced without exception before the department extends its illegal orders of quarantining Governors to House arrest," Nanok stated.