Governor stirs debate after unveiling his aide-de-camp

Governor Benjamin Cheboi addresses MCA on Tuesday (PHOTO: Titus Munala/Standard)

Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi has become the first governor to have an aide-de-camp, in what may rekindle the debate on the powers and privileges of governors.

On Tuesday during an address to the County Assembly, Cheboi had an Administration Officer, who stood behind him for the two-hour period his speech took, just like the President’s ADC does during his address.

The image of an “aide-de-camp”  standing right behind Cheboi immediately went viral and set tongues wagging, with Kenyans on social media raising questions on it’s legality.

Legally, the privileges of an ADC are reserved for a sitting President of the Republic, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Defense Forces, a visiting Head of State or a member of the royal family according to a former ADC.

 PRESIDENTIAL RESERVE

“It is an honour only reserved to Head of State, former Head of State and a visiting Head of State,” said a former aide-de-camp, who added that the lowest rank of an ADC is a military officer of the rank of Major, while the highest is a Colonel.

The image of Cheboi with his “ADC”   went viral on social media, causing uproar that the governor might have contravened the law by conferring himself with presidential powers.

“This is a violation of the law; an aide-de-camp is only assigned to the commander in chief. I wonder under whose authority the officer is operating. His oath is to his commander in chief, not to the governor,” said Andrew Mutie in the social media.

Famous blogger Robert Alai also posted on the trending picture, where he captioned, “we created little gods. See this Baringo Governor with his own aide-de-camp like the President.”

Baringo County assembly Standing Orders Part VI (21) (1) controversially states that “The Governor may be accompanied in the chamber by an Aide-de-Camp” without clearly defining who an aide-de-camp is.

The Assembly recently reviewed it’s standing orders to suit with ‘pomp and colour’ but conspicuously failed to define aide-de-camp.

County Assembly Speaker William Kamket defended the move by the governor to have the officer stand behind him.

“People of Kenya are used to seeing Aide-de-camp only with the President. But they must wake up, smell the coffee and realise that power has moved from the Presidency,” he said when reached for comment.

All the pomp and colour happened during the governors “state of the county address” In Baringo, just like it happens during State of  Nation Address in State House. 

Media reaction         

According to Rajab Wahi, the aide-de-camp idea is an archaic exercise by African Presidents, so he sees nothing wrong if a Kenyan governors copies the president.

“Our system is embraced by presidents who want to show their might and power. The world’s most powerful presidents Barrack Obama doesn’t have an aide-de-camp but wields a lot of power,” said Wahi.

During his first address to Nairobi City County, Governor Evans Kidero inspected a guard of honour mounted by the City askaris, a fete that was  soon followed in other counties. 

This prompted MPs to pass a Bill, to curb the powers of the Governors, which included flying of the national flag and being addressed as ‘His Excellency’.

When Kenya gained independence from the British, it also inherited the roles that accompany presidential powers, including aid-de camp, whose role is largely ceremonial. Mostly, he carries the President’s personal items such as speeches.