Senators Push Back Against Governors’ Refusal to Appear Before CPAC
The Speaker stressed that adherence to this constitutional timeline is mandatory and any actions that delay the process undermine efforts to ensure prudent management of public funds.
Senators Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Moses Kajwang' (Homa Bay), Ledama Olekina (Narok) during a Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) meeting on February 10, 2026. Photo/Courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
Members of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) have strongly responded to governors following a standoff between the Senate and the Council of Governors (CoG) over committee summons.
The response comes after the CoG announced that governors would no longer appear before CPAC, claiming they are routinely humiliated by senators during committee hearings.
On Monday, CPAC issued summons to the governors of Nandi, Laikipia, Lamu, Murang’a and Tharaka Nithi after they failed to show up to answer audit-related queries. During a committee sitting on Tuesday, attended by Narok Governor Patrick Keturet Ole Ntutu, senators criticised governors for attempting to evade accountability.
CPAC Chairperson and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ said governors cannot opt out of scrutiny over the use of public funds, stressing that the committee will continue overseeing county finances to curb misuse of resources.
He said appearing before the committee is a constitutional obligation and not a favour, adding that senators will continue advocating for increased county funding while ensuring accountability in its use.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the decision by the CoG to boycott the committee reflects weak leadership at the county level, which ultimately affects service delivery.
He emphasized that oversight requires governors to account for funds allocated to them, noting that claims of humiliation are often a result of governors presenting themselves poorly through mismanagement of public money. Sifuna added that some governors appear before the committee ill-prepared, with incorrect financial documents, and later avoid scrutiny over their own records.
He cited instances of incompetence, including a past case where a governor reportedly claimed inability to read documents after leaving glasses at home.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei argued that some governors are deliberately avoiding CPAC because of alleged involvement in corruption. He gave an example of counties spending millions on seedlings in arid regions while neglecting critical needs such as water provision, questioning such priorities.
Cherargei warned that the committee would firmly interrogate all governors who appear before it regarding how public funds have been allocated.
The standoff has also drawn in Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who said the Senate will not retreat from its constitutional role of overseeing the use of public resources. In a statement, Kingi noted that if the CoG has concerns about the conduct of Senate committees, there are established institutional mechanisms for raising and resolving such issues.
He further explained that Senate audit committees operate under Article 229 of the Constitution, which requires Parliament to consider and conclude audit reports within three months of receiving them from the Auditor-General, with a deadline of March 31.
The Speaker stressed that adherence to this constitutional timeline is mandatory and any actions that delay the process undermine efforts to ensure prudent management of public funds.
Despite the Senate’s position, the Council of Governors has maintained that governors will continue to boycott CPAC sessions until their concerns are addressed through formal engagement between the Senate leadership and the Council.
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