A fresh standoff has emerged between the Senate and county governors, raising concerns about accountability and the management of public funds.
The disagreement follows a decision by the Council of Governors to instruct its members not to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, arguing that governors have been repeatedly humiliated whenever they attend committee sessions.
The move came shortly after the committee summoned the governors of Nandi, Laikipia, Lamu, Murang’a, and Tharaka Nithi to respond to audit queries.
The summons were issued after the governors failed to show up when initially required.
The Council of Governors claimed that such appearances had turned into hostile encounters rather than constructive oversight, prompting their boycott.
Senators, however, strongly rejected these claims and insisted that oversight is a constitutional duty, not a personal attack on governors.
During a committee sitting where Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu appeared, members of the committee criticized governors who avoid scrutiny and warned that such actions undermine accountability to the public.
CPAC chairperson and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ made it clear that governors cannot choose when to be accountable. He said oversight is not a favor but a responsibility the Senate owes to citizens.
According to him, the committee will continue to question how county funds are used to stop misuse of public resources, regardless of discomfort from county leaders.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna also faulted the Council of Governors, saying their decision reflects weak leadership that ultimately harms service delivery.
He argued that once counties receive public funds, they must fully account for how the money is spent.
Sifuna said many governors embarrass themselves by arriving unprepared, with incomplete or incorrect documents, and then accuse senators of harassment.
He recalled incidents where governors struggled to explain their own financial records, including one who claimed he could not read documents because he had forgotten his glasses.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei added that some governors may be avoiding the committee because of corruption concerns.
He gave an example of counties spending millions on seedlings in drought-prone areas instead of prioritizing urgent needs like water.
He warned that the committee would firmly question governors on how they set spending priorities.
The standoff has drawn in Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who defended the Senate’s role and said it will not shy away from its mandate.
He explained that if the Council of Governors has complaints, there are proper channels to raise them instead of boycotting committee sessions.
Kingi noted that the Constitution requires Parliament to review audit reports within a set timeline, and failure to comply disrupts efforts to ensure responsible use of public funds.
Despite these statements, the Council of Governors has maintained its position, saying governors will stay away from CPAC until their concerns are addressed through formal talks between Senate leadership and the council.
Questions remain about how long the deadlock will last and what it means for transparency and accountability at the county level.
