This comes after tensions escalated in Parliament on Tuesday following remarks by governors, who resolved to ignore summons from Senate committees over alleged unfair treatment.
Senators have vowed to scrutinise governors more aggressively, insisting on zero tolerance for any official who fails to account for public funds.
This comes after tensions escalated in Parliament on Tuesday following remarks by governors, who resolved to ignore summons from Senate committees over alleged unfair treatment.
The county heads called for the immediate reconstitution of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISF) committee, accusing the legislators of overstepping their mandate and mismanaging oversight processes.
However, the legislators have maintained that the appearance of Governors before Senate committees is a constitutional requirement, warning that those unwilling to comply with the rule of law should vacate office.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot condemned the governors’ actions, insisting that the Senate has the constitutional authority to summon any public officer at any time to account for the use of public funds.
“We can summon them to this house at any time, at any period, day or night… I was taken aback listening to that person… There were members who have served in this house, and they know the procedures. You cannot be addressed by people who are purporting to be Excellencies, yet there is nothing excellent in their conduct,” he said.
Cheruiyot added that any governor confident in their conduct should not be threatened or lectured.
“If you know that you’re clean… then you just appear in the house and answer questions. You don’t need to give us long stories,” he added.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei warned that failure to account for public funds would trigger intense scrutiny.
“When we are outside, people question what the role of the Senate is. Our greatest business is to ensure that all funds and resources are accounted for. It is not a favour or a privilege but a constitutional requirement. Anybody who does not want to account for public money should resign from office. It is a violation of Chapter Six,” he said.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna defended the committees’ mandate, noting that governors’ complaints were misdirected.
“The committees of this House are put together by the House itself, not by busybodies. We have a deadline of March 31 for the Public Accounts Committee to consider all reports,” he said.
“Bungoma County came to the Senate Public Accounts Committee and told us that somebody took Sh4 million to finance a Christmas tree lighting, and we are expected to just paper over such issues. Another one spent Sh5 million in Vihiga County for a housewarming. The papers and what you are doing in the county with public money are what is causing this embarrassment; it is not us.”
Kitui Senator Enock Wambua emphasised that the Council of Governors has no authority over Senate oversight.
“The Council of Governors does not, and I repeat, does not appear before the Senate oversight committees. It is individual governors who appear. Accountability with the speaker is personal. Any governor who refuses to appear because of directives from the council will carry their own cross,” he said.
