Governors to sue Nkaissery for withdrawing Joho, Kingi security

Governors have resolved to sue Interior Cabinet Secretary, Major Gen. (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaissery, for withdrawing security services for Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho, and his Kilifi counterpart, Amason Kingi.

The Council of Governors (CoG) wrote a statement condemning the action by CS Nkaissery arguing that governors are state officers under oath of office and therefore are entitled to security services from the state as prescribed by article 260 of the constitution and other state service statutes.

“The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) under Article 230(4)(a) of the Constitution, set security as one of the benefits to state officers serving in the County Government vide Gazette Notice No. 2888 of March, 2013. Actually all state officers are entitled to security,” said the governors’ statement.

The governors further sought to have a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss the matter as well as other issues pertaining to counties.

The county chiefs have also given notice to county officers intending to contest in the August 2017 General Election to vacate office six months before the elections as required by law.

The provision demanding state officers to relinquish their public offices before declaring interest in elective posts is expected to throw public services in counties into quagmire as many county officers have indicated desire to run for posts in the forthcoming elections, as witnessed in Embu County where six County Executive Committee (CEC) members resigned at a go in readiness for August elections.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set February 9, 2017 as the last day for public servants eyeing elective posts.