By KPC Reporter
Senators and Governors are locked in a heated standoff over the oversight of county governments, trading sharp statements that expose deep tensions in the country’s devolved governance system.
In a press release on Tuesday, the Senate expressed “grave concern” over allegations by the Council of Governors (CoG) that its committees were engaging in political witch-hunts, harassment, extortion, and intimidation of governors.
The Council had earlier resolved that governors would suspend appearances before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) until what it termed “continuous and escalating extortion, political witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and humiliation” were addressed.
The Senate, through its speaker Amason Kingi however, dismissed the claims as unsubstantiated and inappropriate.
“The Senate wishes to reiterate that its oversight role over county governments is firmly anchored in the Constitution,” the statement read, citing Article 96 which mandates the Senate to exercise oversight over national revenue allocated to counties.
Kingi stressed that compliance with audit timelines under Article 229 was not optional, warning that any actions impeding the audit process undermine accountability and prudent use of public resources.
The Council of Governors insisted on Monday that the oversight committees had fallen short of constitutional intent.
It argued that governors were being subjected to humiliation and excessive appearances before committees.
“Governors will not appear before the CPAC until these concerns are addressed through a structured engagement between the leadership of the Senate and the Council of Governors,” wrote CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi.
The Council further resolved that governors would only appear once per audit cycle before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.
While the Senate acknowledged the need for dialogue, it cautioned against what it termed “public mudslinging and unsubstantiated allegations in the media.”
“Recourse to public mudslinging… unsupported by evidence, is neither appropriate nor conducive to intergovernmental cooperation,” the Senate statement declared.
This clash underscores the delicate balance between accountability and autonomy in Kenya’s devolved system.
The Senate insists its committees are constitutionally bound to scrutinise county finances, while governors argue that the process has become politicised and punitive.
Both sides have signalled willingness for structured engagement, but the rhetoric suggests that trust between the two institutions is at a low ebb.