Proposal to bar senators to be governors faulted

Likuyani MP Dr. Enoch Wamalwa Kibunguchy has faulted the proposal seeking to bar senators from contesting gubernatorial seats in the next year’s general elections.

Speaking in his constituency Kibunguchy termed as unconstitutional proposal by Parliament’s Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee that senators be barred from vying for governorship in the 2017 ballots.

He said every eligible Kenyan citizen has a constitutional right to contest any political seat once they are declared vacant.

Kibunguchy castigated his colleagues for engaging in cheap politics rather than focusing on weighty issues affecting Kenyan and drafting that will be helpful for the nation.

He said the proposed bill was totally against the spirit of the Constitution which doesn’t ill-treat against anyone contesting for any elective position.

“This is completely against all the tenets of democracy, democracy says that anybody has a right to vie for any seat so long as you meet the requirements in the constitution,” said Kibunguchy.

“So if senators want to be governors so be it and I am sure some governors will also want to contest for presidency. now are we also going to stop them? Even some MP’s will want to be governors, everybody wants to aspire to get to a higher seat,” he added.

The lawmaker who is a strong supporter of Kakamega county senator Dr. Bonny Khalwale who has already declared his interest in the county gubernatorial seat and Bungoma senator Moses Wetang’ula who has declared his presidential bid vowed never to support the bill and promised to rally other like minded legislators to throw it away.

“We cannot rewrite the constitution, the law says if you want to stand for governorship one of the requirements is that you must have a degree, so if you meet the requirements then you have all rights to vie for any seat including governor,” added Kibunguchy.

In its report to the National Assembly, the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee, chaired by Githunguri MP Peter Njoroge Baiya wants senators blocked from vying for the post on grounds that this will interfere with their oversight role in the Senate.