Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has called for a more coordinated approach to county oversight, saying repeated audits and frequent Senate summonses slow down service delivery and create unnecessary strain on county governments.
Speaking in an interview on Radio Generation, Natembeya emphasized that while governors support accountability, the current oversight system often duplicates work and delays progress.
“Devolution is evolving. It’s an experiment, and people are learning as we go. When challenges come up, it’s only fair to note them so they can be addressed,” Natembeya said on Wednesday, underlining that counties have no issues with the Auditor General and are audited every financial year.
He explained that approvals for spending follow clear procedures, with funds released based on budgets and only after formal approvals.
“We’ve not had any serious issue because, other than the delays… sometimes contractors do a job and you want to pay them, but approvals take time. It creates another layer of bureaucracy,” he said.
Natembeya noted that Senate oversight, through committees such as the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPIC), can be repetitive.
Governors are often summoned multiple times for the same issues, even after submitting required documents.
“Normally, people go to the Senate, and these issues have already been resolved. But during an audit, you might not provide a document on time. Once it’s submitted, you’re called again, repeating the same thing,” he said.
The governor also addressed claims of harassment and extortion, calling some narratives exaggerated.
“When you see a bit of extortion… it’s actually a lot. People try to make it seem like the Senate is superior to governors. Nobody is superior. We are all elected and serving the public. Can we just relate like a devolution family?” he said.
He added that early devolution, when counties operated almost like cash businesses, contributed to misconceptions about governors’ access to money.
“In the first counties, 2013–2017, structures weren’t fully in place. Some governors even carried 20 million in vehicles. That gave the wrong impression that money was floating around,” Natembeya explained.
The governor also defended the integrity of audit reports, saying they are professional, public documents that cannot be changed by pressure or payments.
“If you have an adverse report, I don’t know how you can change that by bribing senators. The document is professional and already in the public domain. Oversight is normal, not something to fear,” he said.
Natembeya urged that oversight processes be consolidated so issues can be addressed in one sitting, reducing repeated Senate appearances. “We told them, if a governor is called, can we deal with all the issues in one day, even if it takes 10 hours? This way, we don’t have to come repeatedly to the Senate for CPAC,” he said.
His comments highlight the challenges of balancing accountability with efficient governance, emphasizing the need for pr
