Corporal who escorted governor demoted to constable.
Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi addressing Members of County Assembly with his aide standing behind him. A police officer who acted as Governor Cheboi’s aide-de-camp has been demoted. PHOTO / WYCLIFF KIPSANG / NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The officer is said to have been given two options — transfer to a remote area or get the sack.
- Governor calls for a good working relationship between the county assemblies and the county governments for devolution to succeed.
A police officer who acted as Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi’s aide-de-camp, similar to the President’s uniformed military aide, has been demoted.
Mr Micah Kurui, an Administration Police corporal who had escorted the governor to a County Assembly meeting, confirmed he had been demoted to constable.
“I was not aware that after being seconded to the county government I still had to receive orders from Nairobi. I was instructed to dress like an ADC by the assembly’s sergeant-at-arms,” he said.
The officer is said to have been given two options — transfer to a remote area or get the sack.
Baringo MCAs, however, said there was nothing wrong in the governor having an ADC as standing orders accord him such privileges.
GOVERNOR CLEARED
“The governor is in order as he is supposed to open every session of the assembly. We are now in the second session of the first assembly,” said Barwessa ward member Joseph Makilap.
Speaker William Kamket also exonerated the governor, citing Section 21 of the standing orders, which he said allowed governors to have ADCs.
“Kenyans are used to seeing an aide-de-camp only with the President, but they should wake up, smell the coffee and realise that power has moved from the presidency,” Mr Kamket said.
He said that in other Commonwealth jurisdictions with similar devolved units, governors have ADCs.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
In his address, Mr Cheboi dwelt on what his government had achieved in one year in office, citing the setting aside up of more than Sh150 million for the refurbishment of major county roads.
“We are on course to implementing all the goals in our County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). My government will continue exercising accountability and transparency. We will bring on board all communities including the minorities in the county in the management of our affairs,” said Mr Cheboi, who was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Mathew Tuitoek.
Mr Cheboi, whose impeachment flopped recently, called for a good working relationship between the county assemblies and the county governments for devolution to succeed.
“Our differences in opinion should not be taken to be personal to the extent that our MCAs come up with flimsy grounds to impeachment governors,” said Mr Cheboi.
