Senator, Raphael Chimera, has introduced a bill in the Senate that aims to bar former county governors from contesting in both parliamentary and county assembly elections for the first five years after completing their term. The bill, known as the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to amend Articles 99 (2) and 193 (2) of the Constitution, as well as sections 24 (2) and 25 (2) of the Elections Act.
Senator Chimera argues that allowing former governors to sit in the two legislatures would create conflicts of interest and interfere with their decision-making process. He believes that this proposal is necessary to allow for the completion of any accountability processes that county chiefs may be subjected to. One aspect of accountability mentioned in the bill is the auditing of county government financial accounts, as the outcome of these audits often determines the suitability of individuals for other elective offices.
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County governors are required by law to respond to audit queries prepared by the Office of the Auditor General and submitted to the Senate and County Assemblies for scrutiny under the provisions of the Public Audit Act. Senator Chimera asserts that if former governors are elected to sit in the County Assembly or the Senate, they may have the ability to influence the outcomes of accountability processes against them.
The Senator emphasizes that the Senate and County Assemblies have a responsibility to examine the actions and decisions of governors in their oversight of county governments. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent former governors from participating in parliamentary and county assembly elections immediately after completing their term.
If the proposed bill is accepted by the House and signed into law, it would mean that any county governor serving their final term in office or those in their first term who wish to transition to parliamentary politics will not be eligible to participate in the 2027 General Election. This measure aims to ensure that any accountability processes related to the administration and financial management of counties are completed before former governors can pursue other elective offices.
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Senator Chimera’s proposal to bar former county governors from vying for elections has the objective of allowing for the completion of accountability processes related to the administration and financial management of counties. This measure aims to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure the integrity of the decision-making process in the two legislatures.
