Africa-Press – Kenya. Senators have opened inquiry into what they have termed unlawful creation of office of governors’ spouses by county governments.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has directed the Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee to probe the matter in the wake of reports of the establishment of the offices.
The move was triggered by Senator Boni Khalwale who petitioned the Senate, claiming that the Kakamega county assembly is considering a bill to anchor the office of the county first lady.
“I seek a statement from the committee concerning efforts by the Kakamega county government, through its assembly to anchor into law the Office of the Governor’s Spouse in total contravention of the Constitution,” Khalwale said.
According to the Senate Majority Whip, the MCAs move also violates the County Governments Act and the Legal Advisory by the Attorney General.
“The committee should probe the possible cases of abuse of this Constitution and other laws by the county governors in creating unnecessary offices in an already bloated payroll,” Khalwale said.
The committee, the senator said, should provide the legal basis for anchoring in law the office of the governor’s spouse.
The Kakamega ward reps are reportedly considering the Kakamega County Office of the Governor’s Spouse Bill 2023.
Besides establishment, the Bill also confers immense benefits to the governor’s spouse.
Currently, there is no law that establishes the office of the governors’ spouses.
However, many counties have reportedly established the office, albeit unlawfully. They are funding them through the taxpayers.
Khalwale wants the Senate to compel the Auditor General to undertake an audit of the powers of the county assembly of Kakamega to establish the purported office of the governor’s wife and processes used to create the said office.
“The county should state the extent of the implementation of the said law establishing the Office of the Governor’s Spouse in Kakamega county,” he said.
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