AG accused of delays in publishing county laws

What you need to know:

  • “We can’t implement legislation allowing us to control various sectors. While counties are working hard to end the alcohol menace, the relevant laws they have come up with are yet to be implemented,” said Mr Ruto.
  • Mr Ruto said the council had already initiated talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution to compel the AG to publish the laws.

Governors have accused the Attorney-General of delaying the publication of county laws in the Kenya Gazette.

Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto said the dilly-dallying had affected county operations, which cannot function without the legislation.

Mr Ruto, who is also the Bomet governor, said failure to gazette the laws had affected the collection of taxes to run county business.

The governor said the affected legislation include the Alcoholic Drinks Act, the Environment Management Act and the County Revenue Administration and Allocation Act.

He spoke in Kericho town last Friday.

According to the County Government Act, all laws assented to by governors are to be published both in the county gazette and the Kenya Gazette, to become law.

Section 35 of the Act says: “The county assembly legislation shall come into force on the fourteenth day after its publication in the county gazette and the Kenya Gazette.”

WORKING HARD
“We can’t implement legislation allowing us to control various sectors. While counties are working hard to end the alcohol menace, the relevant laws they have come up with are yet to be implemented,” said Mr Ruto.

The delay has seen Kakamega County experience delays in implementing two Acts assented to by Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Kakamega County Legal Officer Christabel Ashiono told the Nation Monday that they were yet to receive information on the two Acts forwarded to the AG six months ago.

“These laws are supposed to be gazetted within seven days but that is not happening,” she said.

Mr Ruto said the council had already initiated talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution to compel the AG to publish the laws.

However, Kericho and Siaya county legal officers dismissed Mr Ruto’s statement, saying the AG’s Office has nothing to do with publishing of county laws.

Reported by Silas Apollo, Benson Amadala, Timothy Kemei and Nelcon Odhiambo