Kenyan Governors Demand for Immunity from Arrest, Prosecution
Kenyan Governors are now demanding immunity from prosecution while still in office, just like the President.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Josphat Nonok accused state agencies of unfairly targeting the county heads in the war against graft.
The demand comes days after the arrest and prosecution of Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, who was charged with corruption related offences last week over Sh20 million illegal procurement.
The Governors said they should be accorded the same treatment as the President, arguing that they are also heads of government. The President enjoys immunity from arrested and prosecution while still serving.
“The best practice in jurisdictions that are devolved is that the heads of both levels of government have immunity on civil and criminal proceedings while they are in office,” Nanok said during a press conference at the CoG headquarters in Nairobi.
Nanok said Governor Ojaamong was mishandled despite voluntarily surrendering himself to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“Whereas the fight against corruption is inevitable, this fight cannot be politicised and it cannot be used selectively to target specific officers,” he told reporters.
Nanok said the CoG is aware that the government is targeting to arrest more Governors in the coming weeks. The Governors have threatened to disrupt activities at the counties if another of their own is arrested.
“The right to bail or bond must be respected and cannot be compromised at any cost. In this regard, the council stands with the governor,” the CoG said.
“There are instances where governors have referred cases of graft to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the EACC but no action has been taken,” they said.
Comments (10)
Bullshit targeting, no that is bullseyes
These Governors are 1 of the Reasons Trump termed Africans as SHITHoles.
Governors are not Presidents. No immunity. These are county heads who know the law. They must be examples of how the law should be applied. They are also at the highest levels of Public Servants and must be the best example of Public Servants. When they fail as Public Servants, the law should not wait until the get out of office, it should apply immediately. How can the law wait for the Governor to loot everything? President is one. Governors are 47. Agree to be reduced to a reasonable number from 47 to 5 then we will give immunity to the new 5. 47 is a mistake. Too many to give immunity to. That is destroying Public trust.
I typically find Nanok more level headed than many, but on this one he totally dropped the ball. Have to agree with you UI, there is no way we can give 47 guys who control county budgets, total immunity from prosecution. Just 10% of them going rogue means you have five thieves pillaging public funds who nevertheless evade prosecution because of their position. No Nanok, the best immunity as someone stated below is to not steal. Period.
Immunity from arrest will come if you do not steal. Thieves must be arrested. So, you steal, you go to jail. No immunity.
Waheshimiwa na pia wazalendo wote wa nchi y Kenya: Tufanye kazi pamoja ili mji wetu wa Nairobi uwe bora na pia safi sana kuliko mji wa Kigali.
https://youtu.be/rol52Ox351s
If I could find this thug Josphat Nonok right now, I’d whip him really good. He’s an imbecile!
Nobody is above the law. get it
Perhaps the word GOVERNOR is getting into their heads. We can change that to County Managers. Being manager you can be fired quicker and jailed faster but then these fools have been elected by a bunch of gullibles which complicates their firing. How about recalling them once they start their ushenzi. Nope, they would never change the Constitution (mps) for that purpose. We are screwed big time.
Governors are among the most corrupt individuals in Kenya. Immunity my ass.