Governors protest over Issa Timamy case

Governors on Thursday protested against the arrest of Lamu Governor Issa Timamy in connection with the Mpeketoni  massacre.

In a statement issued by Mr Isaac Ruto, the chairman of the Council of Governors, the county bosses asked the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Mr Joseph ole Lenku to take full responsibility for the senseless killing of innocent Kenyans in Lamu County and stop shifting blame.

“Timamy’s arrest is a diversionary issue and we take great exception over the matter. The National Government should not blame counties over its failure to contain insecurity in the country,” Mr Ruto said on Thursday.

He added: “Lenku should resign over the attack and general upsurge in insecurity across the country.”

Mr Ruto spoke as Mr Timamy was presented before a Mombasa court on Thursday over the Mpeketoni killings.

RECENT SUMMONING
The Bomet governor said thorough investigations should have been conducted before anyone was blamed. He said security agencies had failed to prevent the attack.

Mr Ruto also expressed displeasure over the recent summoning of governors by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to record statements over security matters.

Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Stephen Mutai, challenged the National Government to gazette the regulations concerning County Policing Authority to allow counties to play a role on provision of security.

At the same time, he dismissed  as a “sham” a report by the Controller of Budget showing that counties had returned Sh182 billion to the National Treasury.

“I  want to  assure Kenyans that  no money was lying idle  in any of our bank accounts or being returned to the Treasury as alleged in the report,” he said.