Senate speaker Ekwe Ethuro deny any supremacy battle with Governors

Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro. (Photo:File/Standard)

By Antony Gitonga

Naivasha, Kenya: Senators are now downplaying the supremacy battles between them and Governors noting that the issue had been blown out of proportion.

The Senators noted that the current differences had arisen from the recent impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

Despite denying any supremacy battles, they were quick to warn Governors that they were ready to send them home if they misappropriated funds.

Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro said Senators were keen to make sure that devolution succeeded adding that they were not planning against county governments.

“There is nothing personal between Senators, governors, MPs or even MCAs and the debate has been blown out of proportion,” he said.

Ethuro however said the county development board bill that is on the floor of the senate will address the emerging challenges once it goes through.

According to him, the board will have governors act as secretaries thus will be able to check the excesses in the counties while offering services to the people.

“We all know chief executives of companies act as secretaries of the boards and there is nothing different from what the bill seeks to create,” he said.

Ethuro was speaking to the press during a collaborative leadership capacity development meeting for senate committee members organized by UNDP at Enashipai Resort in Naivasha.

His sentiments were echoed by Kiambu senator Kimani wa Matangi who said that the board will solve the emerging conflicts in running of the counties.

Wa Matangi said it was not wrong for the county chiefs to fly flags and have titles if they delivered the necessary services to the people.

“If you want me to call my governor His Excellency, then he should first deliver on his pledges but not act as if the title has swallowed him up,” he said.

Kericho senator Charles Keter said there were no supremacy battles between them and the governors but called on them to follow the law.

He noted that governors just like any other civil servant of a high office were supposed to be accountable adding that the senate will continue to perform it's role as one way of safeguarding devolution.

“We are willing to impeach more Governors who have misused public resources just like we did in the case of Embu,” he said.

Senators Amos Wako (Busia) G.G Kariuki (Laikipia) and nominated senators Mvita Mshenga and Fatuma Adan Dullo are among senators attending the three day retreat.