The Council of Governors on Thursday warned the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination against intimidating governors as they were constitutional office holders elected by the people.
The Council led by Turkana County Governor Josphat Nanok stated that they took great exception with the treatment of the Governor of Mombasa County, Ali Hassan Joho during the launch of SGR in Miritini where he was blocked from accessing the launch of the SGR by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In a statement to newsrooms, the council noted that this was the second time in less than six months that the governor was being prevented from attending a public event in his own county and warned that President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration should respect county governments.
"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.
The Council whipped by Kiambu Governor William Kabogo also stated that whereas the National Government had the authority to exclude a governor from addressing an event, they did not have the powers to bar a leader from attending the event and interacting with his voters.
"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 also stated that the Ministry of Interior was bound by the constitution and would not be allowed to operate under its own rules where it blocked Governors the way they wanted.
"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.
The statement comes after Governor Joho was blocked from attending the official launch of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) by President Kenyatta on Wednesday at Miritini Mombasa.
Read Also: Joho Blocked From SGR Launch
