State told off over Governor Paul Chepkwony visa row

KERICHO: Some Kericho Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have expressed dismay at the embarrassment caused to area governor Paul Chepkwony after he was denied a visa to attend a World Health Organisation meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

Londiani Ward Rep Jackson Kikwai echoed Council of Governors (CoG) Chairman Isaac Ruto’s claims that the Government had blocked Mr Chepkwony from attending the meeting on the flimsy excuse that his application was time barred.

“It is wrong for a person of high calibre such as a governor to be needlessly humiliated over a simple trip. The Government must apologise to the governor and Kericho residents,” said Mr Kikwai.

The governors’ council on Wednesday criticised the Executive after Chepkwony and Makueni Health Executive Andrew Mulwa were denied visas to attend the 68th World Health Assembly.

spoiling for fight

Ruto said the Government’s actions show that it is spoiling for a fight and vowed not to “play ball”.

“We were surprised the host country of an international meeting would refuse to issue a visa on grounds that one is time barred,” he said.

Kikwai at the same time criticised National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale for his attack on some Rift Valley leaders, who have been critical of Deputy President William Ruto, during a funeral in Kericho over the weekend.

He wondered how Duale had the audacity to hurl insults on leaders, including Governor Ruto, his Kericho counterpart Paul Chepkwony and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, whereas he was yet to issue the list of terror suspects as he had promised after the Garissa University College terror attack.

Mr Duale at the weekend launched a fresh attack at the DP’s opponents, saying they have “gone mad”.