Dispute over county chiefs has a precedence in United States

The present dispute over the appointment by President Kibaki of commissioners to each of the 47 counties had a parallel in USA in 1828 during the presidency of Andrew Jackson, although in that instance it was the president who vetoed a decision made by congress.

It concerned the renewal of the charter of the US Federal Bank which had been declared constitutional by the Supreme Court.

The president, however, was aware that the bank itself was very unpopular with the electorate as well as being a source of corruption.

R. E. H. FITZHERBERT, Kikambala-Mtwapa, Mombasa