The Council of Governors has issued three demands regarding the arrest and trial of Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, August 28, the council said it would support the fight against corruption on condition of the demands being met.
First, the CoG demanded that investigative agencies conduct the case in a manner that conforms with the fundamental concepts of justice and equality.
The case, governors urged, must be free from any form of political interference.
Second, the council demanded that Obado be accorded a fair and expeditious trial so as to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to the citizens of Migori County.
"On the other hand, we continue to urge county officials to adhere to the principles of public finance as they exercise their respective duties," the governors cautioned.
Third, the council demanded that as opposed to recent cases where governors accused of corruption were locked out of their offices, they argued that the orders hindered service delivery to the residents.
A High Court ruling currently bars county bosses from stepping into their offices to stop them from tampering with evidence or intimidating witnesses.
However, a proposed amendment to the law seeks to limit to 90 days, the period within which a court order directing a public or State officer to stay away from office can be in force.
The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill 2020 proposes "to amend the Act to allow a public officer whose case is not concluded within 24 months to apply to the court for his or her suspension to be lifted, and to allow the commission to apply to court for an order for a State officer under investigations or charged with corruption or economic crimes to be temporarily restricted from specific access to their office for a period not exceeding 90 days."
Among governors facing corruption charges who have been barred from accessing their offices are Nairobi's Mike Sonko and Samburu's Moses Lenolkulal.
Busia's Sospeter Ojaamong faces a similar fate after the court recently ruled he had a case to answer over graft charges.
