DP Gachagua: No more arbitrary arrest of governors

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured all the 47 elected governors that they will no longer be subjected to "arbitrary arrests and harassment" by the police in the new government.

Gachagua said the era of government agencies being used to harass elected leaders was over and that the governors will be summoned to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) if they are under any probe.

"The kind of disrespect we have seen in the past five years has come to an end. We shall convene meetings with regional commissioners on how to run issues properly and all other government officials will align to that," he said yesterday.

"We are aware of harassment by government agencies in the name of investigations. DCI should go back to Kiambu Road and wait for crimes to be reported. We cannot have the DCI in offices. They can't send junior officers to arrest governors. Send a letter and have them report there."

The DP was addressing the governors during their induction in Mombasa.

He said he was still trying to acclimatise to the new position of deputy president.

"It is like a dream and when I wake up in the morning I find it is true that I am indeed the Deputy President of Kenya," said Gachagua.

He said State officers will now have to work with the governors to realise devolution, despite their existing differences, or seek transfer to another region.

Gachagua said only the heads of security agencies will have the authority to arrest governors.

"When you embarrass the governors in front of their juniors, how will you expect them to work? If you must arrest them, you must send a gazetted officer to interrogate them. No one will harass you anymore, you are lucky because me and President William Ruto were harassed. No Kenyan should be harassed," he told the county chiefs.

He said getting elected by over 100,000 people from different backgrounds is not an easy task and that governors should have the respect accorded to them by their people.

The DP said once they address the issue of respect among top leaders, the same will trickle down to juniors.

He said the DCI will no longer be accommodated around the county offices and the officers should all move back to their offices on Kiambu Road.

"We have told the DCI to go back to their offices on Kiambu Road and wait for crimes to be reported. They will no longer be expected to have offices in the county offices," said Gachagua.

The DP said the governors coordination summit will be done twice a year and the first will happen before the end of this year.

He said said delayed disbursements to counties will come to an end and transfer of functions shall be done shortly subject to availability of resources.

"Disregard the political coalitions we had and let us work together and we will be proactive to intervene and help out. I have no hang-ups on the positions, what is important is serving Kenyans. We want to move the country forward irrespective of who won," said Gachagua.

He said the new government pays a special tribute to the women elected leaders.