Defiant governor vows to continue flying flag

Governor Isaac Ruto has said a National Assembly Bill that is awaiting the President’s assent to become law will not stop him from flying the national flag while on official duty.

Mr Ruto said the county assembly passed the Emblems, Protocol and Salutations Act last year that allows him to fly the flag.

The governor said the National Assembly’s attempt to deny governors the right to fly the national flag on their vehicles does not “hold any water”.

He was addressing a county stakeholders’ meeting.

Mr Ruto said besides the Act mandating him to fly the flags, it also allows his visiting colleagues to do so while they are within Bomet.

“In as much as the National Assembly passed a law stopping the use of the term ‘Excellency’ in referring to us, the Act passed by the county assembly also allowed us to be addressed as such while in Bomet. The same also applies to deputy governors,” he said.

MPs last month passed a Bill that seeks to strip honorifics from governors and members of county assemblies. This means once it becomes law, a governor will no longer be addressed as “Excellency” and MCAs “Honourable”.

The decision was reached through amendments to the Order of Precedence Bill.

The draft law addresses the issue of seniority and hierarchy of officers for purposes of State functions. It stipulates who can use sirens.

Once the Bill becomes law, anyone who flouts it will be fined up to Sh2 million or 12 months imprisonment or both.

The “Excellency” title will now be reserved for the President, his deputy and their spouses only, while that of “Honourable” will be used only by MPs.

The Bill, sponsored by Eldas MP Adan Keynan, also removes Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney-General and Auditor-General from the list of State officers who will be entitled to use sirens in their motorcades and processions.

Governors will also not be allowed to use them.

Yesterday, Mr Ruto, who is also the Council of Governors Chairman, said it was sad that the MPs had stooped low by legislating on issues relating to titles and flags, instead of addressing more pressing national issues.

“The current crop of MPs are concerned with titles and have become so frivolous that they have forgotten their core mandate in safeguarding the letter and spirit of the Constitution in their legislative agenda,” said Mr Ruto.

He said governors were not interested in titles as they were focused on rolling out development projects for the benefit of the people at the grassroots.

“Due to devolution, all counties have launched development projects that had not been realised in the last 50 years,” he said.

Mr Ruto added: “Previously, the MPs have legislated on the national flag and we would not be surprised if they pass laws to stop us from singing the National Anthem.”