The Supreme Court has ruled that Senators have powers to summon county governors to answer to any questions or provide information requested from them.
CJ Martha Koome, Justices Mohammed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndung’u and William Ouko further ruled that Senate’s oversight authority is not limited to nationally allocated revenue but extends to locally generated revenue by counties.
“By the same token, if the Senate is of the view that the questions to be answered or information to be provided do not need the personal input of the Governor, it may restrict its summons to the relevant County official or Executive Committee,” the court said.
Council of governors had contested summoning of county bosses by the Senate.
The council argued that the oversight authority of senators was only limited to national revenue not locally generated revenue.
Additionally, the court also ruled that the County Assemblies have the power of first tier oversight over County Government revenue, whether nationally allocated or locally generated.
At the same time, the court also reiterated that in honoring summons from senate, there is nothing to stop a governor from going with his or her technical team from the county executive.
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