MCAs defend Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi’s move to have aide

Members of Baringo County Assembly have defended a move by their governor Benjamin Cheboi to address them with an aide standing behind him.

MCAs led by Barwessa ward member Joseph Makilap said Standing Orders accord the governor such privileges.

“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 Mr Makilap.

Baringo County Assembly Speaker William Kamket also exonerated the governor from blame citing Section 21 of the Standing Orders which he said gives governors mandate to have ADCs during his address to the assembly.

“The people of Kenya are used to seeing 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 told the Nation.

He said that in other commonwealth jurisdictions with similar devolved units, governors have ADCs.

In his address, Mr Cheboi dwelt on what his government has 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 Mathew Tuitoek.

Mr Cheboi whose impeachment bid 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.

The move by the Governor elicited mixed reactions on social media.

Here are some of the reactions:

Rajab Wahy said: “I don’t see anything wrong with the man having an aide de camp. Governors are county presidents and should only be impeached on grounds of financial impropriety.”

Lex Ander: “Please there is new spectacle in Baringo County; this should be added among the New Wonders of our times. Power really makes people lose their minds and I got a feeling some of us are beyond salvage. But again I love my county; it is a county of firsts,” said Mr Ander.

Suly Komen: “So the little god has reared its ugly head again in yet another blaring impunity, when armed bandits are wreaking havoc in villages to unarmed residents, one man proudly corrupts Standing Orders to “protect” himself inside the Chambers.”

Robert Alai: “So we created little gods”.