This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
On December 16, 2019, Council of Governors members, led by Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya, addressed the media at Nairobi's Movenpick Hotel. They announced their intention to move to the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court's decision that bars county chiefs from accessing their offices when charged with corruption-related cases.
The move comes after the recent arrest and arraignment of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko for corruption allegation charges. Sonko has been running the county without a deputy since January 2018, when Polycarp Igathe resigned.
CoG Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya stated, “As a matter of common interest, the county governments will urgently move to court over the ruling seeking governors to step aside when charged with corruption, as has been witnessed in Kiambu, Samburu and Nairobi counties.”
The Council of Governors' decision comes three days before the Court of Appeal's ruling on an appeal lodged by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his Samburu counterpart Moses Lenolkulal, who were barred from accessing office by High Court Judges Grace Ngenye and Mumbi Ngugi, respectively.
CoG has also asked the National Treasury to unconditionally disburse the equitable share meant for the counties, following the High Court's order that compels the National Treasury and Controller of Budget to do so.
