Governors’ new plot to keep national flag

What you need to know:

  • Isaac Ruto said the Bill will also define titles for various leaders in the counties including Senators, Members of the County Assembly and National Assembly members

Governors have devised a new trick to keep the privilege of flying the national flag on their cars.

The 47 county bosses have hatched a plan to each introduce a Bill that when passed will allow visiting and hosting governors to fly the national flag within defined county territories.

The plan to be discussed on Thursday at a retreat in Naivasha, where the leaders are meeting to elect new Council of Governors officials, is likely to spark off fresh controversy between the county heads and MPs following the passage of the National Flag, Emblems and Names (Amendment) Bill.

“We have agreed that it is prudent to each pass a Bill at the county assemblies that will allow visiting and hosting governors to fly the national flag while in the hosting county. In Bomet this has been initiated and the same will be done all over the country,” said Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto.

Mr Ruto said the Bill will also define titles for various leaders in the counties including Senators, Members of the County Assembly and National Assembly members.

If passed as planned, then like the President, governors will fly two flags—the county flag and the national flag—on their cars.

“If Bomet passes the Bill it means that if we are hosting the Narok Governor, then he will be free to fly the national flag within our territory,” he explained.

The Bills according to Mr Ruto are also supposed to allow persons within county territories where the legislation has been enacted to refer to governors as “His Excellency” and their spouses as “Her Excellency”.

He said that laws touching on county matters passed by County Assemblies supersede any other legislation passed by any other legislative organ.

On Thursday, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka confirmed that the council meeting in Naivasha would brainstorm on the matter.

“This is something we have discussed. All the County Assemblies will be passing this Bill and effecting it very soon,” Mr Lusaka said.