NAIROBI— Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Senator Moses Otieno Kajwang, has criticised the Council of Governors (CoG) over a resolution that seeks to impose conditions on governors’ appearances before Senate oversight committees.
In a statement issued today, Sen. Kajwang described the CoG’s position – announced during their ongoing retreat in Kilifi – as an attempt to evade accountability at a time when counties face serious allegations of financial mismanagement.
“The governors imply they will only appear before Senate oversight committees under their terms,” Kajwang said. “They want to choose who sits in the committees, when they should appear, and how they should be questioned. I have never seen a case where suspects demand to empanel the bench!”
The Senator’s remarks come against the backdrop of damning Auditor General reports that have exposed irregularities in county expenditure, with mainstream media amplifying cases of alleged theft of public resources. Kajwang insisted that Kenyans are keenly aware of the plunder and view the governors’ stance as an effort to intimidate the Senate into softening its scrutiny.
Citing Articles 229 and 125 of the Constitution, which empower the Senate to review Auditor General reports and summon persons to give evidence, Kajwang stressed that the upper House is simply executing its mandate.
“Accountability is not a favour to the Senate; it is a duty to the public,” he declared, urging governors to “stop the side shows” and honour their constitutional obligations.
While welcoming any evidence of alleged extortion or harassment by Senate committees to be submitted to relevant institutions, Kajwang vowed that the Senate will continue its oversight role “without mercy” where public funds have been misappropriated.
The escalating tension emphasizes persistent friction between the Senate and the Council of Governors over accountability in devolved units.
