The Senate is stepping up enforcement against county governors who fail to appear before the Public Accounts Committee, threatening fines and arrests for continued defiance.
The move comes after several governors on Monday ignored committee invitations, prompting senators to warn that vague excuses will no longer be accepted.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati requested a postponement, saying he was out of the country and asking for a hearing at the end of March.
Kericho Governor Erick Mutai explained that his team needed additional time to prepare a thorough response to auditor recommendations, while Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku cited prior overseas commitments without providing details.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa also gave no specifics, only stating he could not attend due to “unavoidable circumstances.”
Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo attended but abruptly ended the meeting, citing illness.
He turned down an offer of ambulance transport to hospital, cutting short proceedings that lasted only minutes.
Faced with almost three weeks of interrupted meetings, the committee has decided to summon governors formally.
Any governor who fails to comply risks a Sh500,000 fine, arrest, or both, to be carried out by Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja.
“We have received letters requesting the postponement of meetings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. The chair has directed that the governors be summoned to appear before the committee at the earliest opportunity,” stated the committee.
The Constitution under Article 125 grants Parliament and its committees the authority to summon individuals to provide information or evidence.
Section 18(1) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act empowers committees with the same authority as the High Court, while Sub-section 3 allows them to order the arrest of anyone who ignores a summons.
Last month, IG Kanja warned governors against defying parliamentary summonses.
“I am ready to arrest and present governors who fail to honour summonses by Senate oversight committees, provided you give me the time and date you want them presented before you,” he said, adding that police officers can also provide security during committee sittings and inspections.
The tension follows the Council of Governors’ recent decision to avoid the Public Accounts Committee, citing concerns about certain members’ conduct.
In a letter to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, council chair Ahmed Abdullahi said governors will attend other Senate committees but not this one until their issues are addressed. Allegations include extortion, intimidation, harassment, and politically motivated attacks.
“Regrettably, these concerns remain unaddressed. Indeed, the conduct in question has persisted with continued attacks against governors, including on the floor of the House,” Abdullahi wrote. The refusal to attend came after Speaker Kingi postponed a planned meeting with the governors last Thursday due to repeated non-appearances.
