Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama has joined Council of Governor’s chair Peter Munya is opposing the recent signing of a clause by President Uhuru Kenyatta that will see ward administrators’ tenure end after five years.
Munya had vowed to challenge the controversial law in court accusing the national government of shortchanging devolved systems of governance.
And on Sunday at his Nyamira residence, Nyagarama vowed to join the CoG in court to protect ‘civil rights’ of innocent people.
“I am really perplexed that the President could sign into law that draconian Bill. It’s against the spirit on the new Constitution and on behalf of Nyamira people, I oppose it. We cannot sit and watch civil rights of innocent people being mutilated,” he said.
“The CoG has taken a stand and I will support it fully. We must go to court to seek the constitutionality of the bill. Kenya is a democratic space where rights of people appointed on a permanent and pensionable terms are given their justice,” he added.
He wondered why the new law did not affect county commissioners and their assistants yet they performed similar functions with those of ward administrators.
“I expected the law to also affect county commissioners. It’s unfair to single out one group for no good reason,” he said.
The law will see ward administrators vacate office on the eve of county Executive succession after general elections as opposed to the previous Act.