The Senate has dismissed allegations by the Council of Governors (CoG) that its watchdog committees are engaging in political witch-hunts, harassment, and intimidation, insisting that its oversight role over county governments is constitutionally mandated and non-negotiable.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi expressed concern over claims attributed to the CoG regarding the conduct of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPIC). The governors have reportedly called for the reconstitution of CPAC, citing alleged misconduct by four unnamed senators.
The Senate also raised alarm over the CoG’s decision to suspend appearances before CPAC pending structured engagement with Senate leadership, and to limit appearances before CPIC to once per audit cycle. Speaker Kingi warned that such actions could undermine constitutional accountability mechanisms, emphasizing that Senate oversight of county governments is a constitutional obligation, not a matter of discretion.
“The oversight role of the Senate over county governments is firmly anchored in the Constitution,” Kingi stated.
He cited Article 96(3) of the Constitution, which mandates the Senate to oversee national revenue allocated to counties, and Article 96(1), which tasks the House with protecting the interests of counties and their governments. Kingi further referenced Article 229, which requires Parliament to consider and dispose of audit reports from the Auditor-General within three months of receipt, by March 31 each year.
“Compliance with this constitutional timeline is not optional, and any actions that impede the audit process undermine accountability and prudent use of public resources,” he added.
While affirming the Senate’s openness to dialogue with devolution stakeholders, Kingi criticised what he termed as “public mudslinging and unsubstantiated allegations” aired through the media. He noted that established institutional channels exist for raising concerns over the conduct of Senate committees.
The standoff between the Senate and the CoG escalated after county governors threatened to boycott appearances before the Senate Public Accounts Committee. The governors accused four unnamed senators of intimidation, harassment, political witch-hunts, and extortion during committee hearings.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kilifi on Monday, CoG chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said governors had resolved not to appear before the committee chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang until their grievances are addressed through structured engagement between Senate leadership and the Council of Governors.
“The Council of Governors notes with great concern the continuous and escalating extortion, political witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and humiliation of governors by certain senators when they appear before the Public Accounts Committee of the Senate,” Abdullahi said.
He accused some senators of turning oversight hearings into hostile political theatres, alleging that governors are deliberately kept waiting for hours, subjected to intimidation, and pressured through political manoeuvres aimed at serving personal or partisan interests rather than accountability.
The Senate, however, maintained that its committees operate within the confines of the law and that any attempt to frustrate their work would amount to undermining the constitutional principles of transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
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