A fresh push to compel county leaders to answer to Parliament has emerged after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna called for financial penalties against counties whose governors fail to appear before the Senate oversight committee, warning that continued defiance could erode accountability in devolved units.
Addressing the Senate on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Sifuna said most governors have been cooperating with the County Public Accounts Committee, but raised concern over a small group he accused of dodging summons and frustrating the committee’s work.
"I want the chair to bring that motion that we had agreed should be brought here so that we stop funds going to some of these people's counties so that they can appear," Sifuna said, emphasising the need for decisive action to ensure compliance.
He further claimed that there are efforts to influence governors to avoid the sessions, pointing an accusing finger at the Council of Governors. Sifuna criticised the council’s leadership under Ahmed Abdullahi, saying such conduct undermines the Senate’s constitutional oversight role.
The senator said recent trends suggest attempts to interfere with attendance at the hearings, warning that this could weaken scrutiny of how public funds are used at the county level.
“I am very ashamed that the chair of the Council of Governors is elected on ODM, for which I am the Secretary-General. I’m extremely embarrassed, Honourable Speaker, because ODM is known as the party that supports devolution and transparency in the use of public resources. How can somebody who calls himself a member of ODM champion show such impunity?” he questioned.
Sifuna maintained that only a handful of governors are involved, and praised those who have consistently honoured invitations to appear before the committee. He said he plans to press the committee chair to publicly name those who have repeatedly failed to attend.
"I want to thank the majority leader and the leadership of this house, including the speaker, for the confidence that you have demonstrated or shown towards the County Public Accounts Committee in our quest to bring governors to account. I also want to make it clear, Honourable Speaker, that not all county governors are refusing to appear before the committee," Sifuna said.
"There are just a few notorious ones, and in fact, Honourable Speaker, I will be challenging my chair to give the top five most notorious county governors."
The remarks come against the backdrop of growing friction between governors and the Senate, with some county chiefs, led by Abdullahi, threatening to boycott the hearings over claims of intimidation during past appearances.
Even so, the committee continues to play a central role in examining county spending and ensuring transparency, with Sifuna’s proposal likely to intensify the debate on how far Parliament should go to enforce compliance.