Kenya:When You Steal You Do It For Yourself Not The Community, Linturi Tells Governors

By Samuel Ouma

Meru Senator Mithika Linturi has castigated Governors for demanding immunity against prosecution over corruption.

He said the constitution provides opportunity for the impeachment of Governors and president on grounds of misappropriation of public funds. He asked the embattled Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong to consolidate his defence to encounter what in the investigative agencies have instead of rallying support from Governors.

Governor Ojaamong was nabbed by Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission officials on Thursday and was arraigned in court on Friday where he was charged with three others of embezzlement of funds. They were released on a bail of sh.1 million ($10000) each.

“All we are saying the Governors as the bosses of devolved units must operate within acceptable decorum. Counties like USA, Canada, South Africa governors run states and they have no immunity to corruption,” said Mr. Mithika Linturi.

On Monday the Council of Governors Chairman Joseph Nanok criticized the Government over the arrest of his Busia counterpart Sospeter Ojaamong saying it was mischivious to call the media and publicly arrest a governor to distract the rot in other ministries, departments and agencies.

“Whereas the fight against corruption is inevitable, this fight cannot be politicized and it cannot be used selectively to target specific officers,” reiterated Mr. Josphat Nanok.

Nanok said governors should be given the same treatment as the president because they are too heads of governments.

“The best practice in jurisdiction that is devolved is that the heads of both levels of government have immunity on civil and criminal proceedings while they are in office,” said Nanok.