The Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has formally called on Inspector General of Police David Kanja to appear, accusing him of disregarding parliamentary authority.
The summons comes after the police chief failed to arrest Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit, who has repeatedly ignored committee orders to explain how billions allocated to the county during the 2023/24 financial year were spent.
Committee chair Senator Moses Kajwang’ said the Inspector General’s refusal to act weakens Parliament’s oversight role. “The Inspector General of Police should appear before this committee within the next seven days to explain why he is unwilling to implement the resolutions of Parliament,” he said while issuing the summons.
He added, “The police must understand that they do not operate under a different constitutional order. This committee will not tolerate contempt of Parliament by the IGP or his failure to facilitate the work of Parliament.”
The governor had previously ignored a CPAC summons for December 4, 2025, prompting the committee to impose a Sh500,000 fine. On December 9, the committee formally directed the Inspector General to locate, arrest, and bring the governor to the committee on December 18.
In a letter dated December 18, Kanja told CPAC that he could not trace the governor, and therefore could not execute the order. The committee then instructed him to continue efforts and produce the governor on January 26, 2026, but the police chief again failed to comply.
Governor Lelelit later sent a letter to the committee explaining that he could not attend because of a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Governing Council meeting at State House, Nairobi, chaired by President William Ruto. Senator Steven Lelegwe confirmed the governor’s presence at State House during the meeting.
“The governor is giving excuses because he is not ready to appear before this committee. In fact, he does not want to appear,” said Senator Lelegwe, calling for strict sanctions.
Senator Kajwang’ rejected the explanations from both the governor and the Inspector General, saying the letters do not nullify the contempt proceedings. Committee members also criticized Kanja for failing to uphold his constitutional responsibility to assist Parliament in carrying out its oversight functions.
“We cannot enforce accountability if the IGP cannot honour resolutions of Parliament,” said CPAC Vice Chair Senator Johnes Mwaruma. “His failure to arrest and produce the governor amounts to contempt of Parliament and he must be held to account.”
Senator Edwin Sifuna described the conduct as a clear violation of parliamentary authority. “We should summon him and deal with this firmly. This is pure contempt,” he said. Senator Enock Wambua suggested that the governor and the IGP may be colluding to frustrate the committee’s work, underlining the need to hold the police chief accountable.
Governor Lelelit is now expected to appear before CPAC on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
