Govt told to end disputes between County Commissioners and Governors

The government has been urged to mediate on the disputes arising between County Commissioners and Governors.

Nyamira County Governor John Nyagarama said it was embarrassing to see County Commissioners being thrown out their offices by Governors “yet these senior civil servants were posted to the region by the government.”

“These commissioners are innocent as they did not impose themselves on the counties. It is the government that posted them notwithstanding what the Constitution says about the provincial administration in devolved government,” he said.

Despite the on-going power struggle between the two centres of power, Mr Nyagarama said he had been patient waiting for part of Nyamira District Headquarters building to be renovated before he occupies his office.

The Constitution stipulates that the provincial administration is to be restructured within five years upon the enactment of the new laws.

However, there has been shoving between governors and county commissioners over who should have more authority in the 47 counties.

Governors’ national chairman Isaac Ruto insists that the county commissioners have no role in county government and should pave way for governors to discharge their elective mandate as the law stipulates.

“They should surrender their offices to governors instead of clinging to them on grounds that they are provincial administration property yet these senior government officers lack functional roles. We don’t need parallel powers of authority in counties,” he said.

Mr Nyagarama also urged the government to construct residential houses for governors and their deputies.

“The government should also allocate funds to construct residential houses for governors and their deputies. We are tired of operating from our rural homes,” he said.