Murkomen's effort to save governors in graft investigations not the best for devolution

The spirited fight by Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen to save Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu is not good for the reputation of the Senate. It is not good for this country either, in the eyes of the international community.

This, coming a few days after Mr Murkomen and his parliamentary colleague Mutula Kilonzo Jnr joined forces with some members of the National Assembly to represent the embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, is even worrying.

All this is coming at a time when President Uhuru Kenyatta has restarted the war on corruption by giving a free hand to various investigative agencies to arrest and charge all those suspected of graft irrespective of their status in society.

When one listens to Murkomen speaking at a public rally and openly criticising the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and that of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, one worries about the caliber of leaders we wake up very early on election days to vote for.

The senator, a practicing lawyer, claims that by asking governors under investigation to step aside pending the outcome of their cases, devolution will suffer a fatal blow.

This is not true, as governors have deputies who they picked as running mates after very careful considerations. These deputies can perform that role, some even better, given that they will be careful not to repeat the mistakes of their bosses now under investigation.

Let our leaders support the President on the war against graft. If what Murkomen said about our system is anything to go by, then the impeachment of Mr Waititu will be vetoed by Senate. This will set a very bad precedent by the House that derives pleasure in being referred to as an Upper House.

What happened to Embu Governor Martin Wambora? Senate did not protect him, but he served his term anyway and was reelected.