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Spouses of future Kakamega governors will require an official appointment if a bill seeking to anchor the Office of the Governor’s spouse-in-law is enacted by the County Assembly.

The bill generated by the county executive drew mixed reactions when it was subjected to a public audit yesterday with some members of the public faulting the provisions on the appointment on grounds that it could be exploited by dishonest county bosses to hire relatives and friends.

One of the key highlights of the proposed law which is a departure from the norm, states that being a first wife or legally wedded governor’s wife or husband does not automatically guarantee one the office and its privileges.

The bill outlines the functions of the office and the qualifications of the occupier who would be appointed by the governor.

Among other attributes, the person must be knowledgeable and caring and can be fired by the appointing authority in a similar fashion without reference to anyone.

Public participation

The County Assembly’s Committee on Public Service chairman Willis Opuka (pictured) who chaired the public participation exercise held at Kakamega town hall was at pains to explain why a marriage certificate or marital children had suddenly lost meaning in the bill.

“This bill seeks to regularise this office and create a budget for it. It also addresses conflicts that could arise in the family and hold the governor captive.

At the moment, it draws its funding from the office of the governor and cannot be subjected to an audit,” Opuka explained.

He went on, “ This office is important to the success of the governor. That’s why we thought about the occupier getting an official appointment.

That an estranged wife does not walk into the office simply because he has a marriage certificate.”

The bill has also proposed the creation of the office of the deputy governor’s spouse complete with a budget to run its affairs.

The spouse would be appointed by the deputy governor and may be fired by the same office.

Asked if the new offices would not strain the public coffers, Opuka said, the assembly would seek advice from the Salaries and Reputation Commission (SRC) before debating and voting in the assembly.