MPs, governor in blame game over county insecurity

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

Marsabit County: A section of leaders from upper North Eastern want the national government to institute legal proceedings against some leaders in Marsabit County.

They accused them of being the problem in the vast county that has led to massive exodus of residents from the area to Ethiopia as refugees.

The upper North Eastern leaders led by Moyale MP Roba Duba called on the Government to take action and stem rising cases of insecurity in the area.

“The national government must not leave the issues of security to an individual in the county. We have continued to alert the police and it is high time the President takes action on the matter of Marsabit County,” said Mr Duba.

Duba castigated the lack of structures in law to rein in on some errant governors who run counties with a view of “exterminating” other communities for historical reasons.

“President Kenyatta must invoke his executive powers on the issue of security of Marsabit County. There are no structures in law to check on the governors and if this is left, a governor can easily exterminate a community,” added Duba. But Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani dismissed allegations of nepotism, corruption and abuse of power leveled against him, saying his government had offered employment equitably across the communities of the county.

He further said those perpetuating the accusations are individuals out to sabotage his government and denied allegations he is not working to restore calm in the region.

INVESTIGATE LEADERS

Mr Yattani now wants the Jubilee leaders investigated for fanning hatred and inciting locals to violence. He has declared the issue of security is the prerogative of the national government and challenged the leadership to ensure there are no incidents of insecurity in the area.

Accompanied by MPs Abdullahi Banticha (Isiolo South), Raso Ali (Saku) and Tiyah Galgalo (Isiolo Woman Representative), Duba wants the Constitution to be amended to create checks and balances for governors.

The leaders also accused the governor of nepotism, corruption and abuse of power, vices they claim has disintegrated the moral fabric that has united them since independence.

According to Mr Ali, in a county where there are two communities and the governor happens to come from one, there are chances he can misuse power to the detriment of the other community. The leaders also hailed Kenyatta’s appointments of the chairmen of various heads of parastatals that saw two members from the Borana community being appointed.