Inspector General Douglas Kanja has warned that the police will arrest and present to the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee all governors who ignore summons.
During the Senate, Kanja argued that governors who fail to appear before the Senate are acting against the Constitution, thereby granting the police service the authority to arrest them.
“The county public accounts committee, in exercising its power under article 125 of the Constitution, may summon county officials or governors to appear before it to respond to audit queries. In instances where they refuse to comply, the service, under the direction of the committee, is always ready to arrest and present them before the committee as requested,” said Kanja
He added that once arrested, the governors will face legal action before being presented before the committees to answer accountability queries.
This will also apply to other government officials who fail to appear in response to a summons without a substantial reason.
“Of course, this is a nuclear option, and I think it’s a power that we want to use sparingly,”
Additionally, Kanja assured the Senate that the police will work closely with the committee to carry out investigations and take legal action against any governor found to have misappropriated county funds.
The Senate summoned governors from five counties over the misuse of Funds in the county governments.
Kanja During the Senate Summons
Inspector General of Police Kanja appeared before the Senate to address the governors’ failure to comply with Senate summons.
The Senate previously summoned Kanja after he failed to arrest and produce Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit.
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Lelelit repeatedly ignored summonses to appear before CPAC to account for billions of shillings allocated to Samburu County during the 2023-24 financial year, prompting the committee to fine him Sh500,000 and order his appearance on December 4, 2025.
After the governor failed to honour the summons, CPAC wrote to the Inspector General on December 9, directing him to locate, arrest, and present the governor before the committee on December 18.
Kanja later informed the committee that he had been unable to establish the governor’s whereabouts and could not effect the arrest.
Governors to Snub CPAC Summons
Kanja’s remarks come a few days after the Council of Governors(COG) said that they will snub the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) over alleged intimidation and humiliation during the sessions.
In a statement on Monday, February 9, the COG highlighted cases in which governors were allegedly intimidated or publicly humiliated while being held accountable for county operations.
“During the ongoing Governors’ Retreat, the Council of Governors has raised concern over the conduct of certain Senate Committees, citing cases of intimidation and humiliation of Governors during oversight engagements,” COG stated.
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They further resolved to only appear before the committee per audit cycle to allow for orderly and effective oversight, and to ensure that the accountability oversight process is orderly and effective.
Despite the CoG directive, Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu and Kitui Governor Julius Malombe appeared before the committees on Tuesday to respond to audit queries.
However, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire defied the invitation and were officially summoned for failing to appear.
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