Senate to grill Governor Joho, says he broke the law

The Senate will summon Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (pictured) to explain why he is running a dysfunctional government after the term of his cabinet lapsed.

The devolution committee chaired by Laikipia Senator John Kinyua is set to convene this week to discuss the matter and give a way forward.

Yesterday, senators who spoke to the Sunday Standard faulted the county boss, saying his continued operation without a cabinet is a violation of the law.

“The Senate has picked up the issue and even engaged area Senator Mohammed Faki, who explained the term of the previous the county executive committees had lapsed.

We will be meeting next week (this week) to deliberate on the matter and invite the governor to respond,” said Mr Kinyua.

Time limit

He argued, “Though the law does not expressly state the time limit for replacement, the governor should have nominated other individuals and forwarded the names to the County Assembly for approval.”

“The delay is not good. By now, he should have nominated his new cabinet. We will be hearing from him to establish what has occasioned the delay,” he said.

Nairobi Senator Johnston Sakaja, said the matter should be escalated beyond Mombasa County, as similar concerns have arisen in Nairobi and other counties where staff are on short contracts.

“There should be security of office to enable appointed officers carry out their mandate. Counties should establish ability for long term contracts of five years to prevent governors from dangling jobs as ‘carrot and stick’,” he said.

Senator Minority Leader Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) termed the situation dysfunctional.

“He cannot chair an executive meeting. A question has been brought to the Senate and will be considered,” he said.

Murang’a Senator Irungu Khangata said Joho was wrong to operate without a cabinet.

“If the matter is already before the Senate, we will handle it. I however disagree with the devolution chair on the issue of time limit in law to appoint a new cabinet, as the governor cannot run his government without a Cabinet,” he said.