I am not hiding from EACC, Governor Godana says

Isiolo County Governor Godana Doyo has dismissed reports that he is hiding from the Ethics and Anti-corruption commission (EACC) who are out to arrest him over allegations of corruption.

On Friday last week the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko gave consent for the arrest of the Governor Doyo ordering that he should be prosecuted, together with Isiolo County Assembly Deputy Speaker David Lemantile, Assistant Clerk of the Assembly Boru Adan Jirima and Abdi Sora, an MCA and the Chair of Finance and Budget Appropriation Committee over influencing the irregular passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2014.

However it was reported that the governor went into hiding after getting wind of reports that EACC detectives were pursuing him.

Speaking outside Meru Courts on Tuesday, Doyo has however refuted the claims saying he has been in Isiolo all along, pointing out that his predicaments have been orchestrated by his political detractors who are out to frustrate him ahead of the 2017 elections.

“It is ridiculous for people to say I went into hiding, yet I was in Isiolo and have been here throughout serving the people in my role as governor,” Doyo said.

“They will not deter me from serving my people as I promised them during the 2013 campaigns,” Doyo said outside the Meru law courts.

Doyo has also been accused of using fraudulent and illegal documents purported to be the county’s supplementary budget.

Doyo has however obtained a temporary court order stopping his arrest, denting a momentary blow to EACC’s hunt.

The governor’s pronouncement came at the backdrop of a resurgent push by EACC to arrest individuals implicated in corruption.

Speaking when he received a wealth declaration report on Machakos County officials, submitted by Governor Alfred Mutua on Monday, EACC CEO Halakhe Waqo stated that he will not be deterred in the fight against corruption noting that the commission will form a new strategy to repossess property acquired through fraudulent means.

He is among 14 governors cited in the list of shame of 175 officials President Uhuru Kenyatta tabled in Parliament in March.

Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya has come to the defence of the embattled governor criticizing the recommendations by the DPP to charge Doyo.

Munya said the reasons given are not sufficient because Doyo is only accused of signing a supplementary budget passed by the county assembly.

He accused the DPP’s office of intimidating the governor from doing his work, saying he is setting “a dangerous precedence”.

“One can’t be prosecuted for doing their work. It is the county assemblies that are empowered to pass laws and the governor assents to the law, according to Article 185(2) of the Constitution,” Munya said.

He stated that once the county assembly passes a bill, the governor has only two options, either to approve or reject it.

The Meru governor said it is unfair for the government to push for the prosecution of Doyo saying the move is aimed at frustrating him.

“If the prosecution goes on with this case, it will be a waste of time and taxpayers’ money,” he said.