By Afrireport 
Senators have strongly pushed back against governors who have questioned the Senate’s authority to summon them to appear before parliamentary committees, setting the stage for an escalating institutional standoff over accountability and oversight.
The confrontation follows complaints from several governors who argue that frequent summons by Senate committees undermine devolution and distract them from service delivery.
Through the Council of Governors (CoG), the county chiefs accused senators of overstepping their constitutional mandate and engaging in political grandstanding.
However, senators have dismissed these claims as misleading and dangerous, warning that attempts to evade scrutiny threaten transparency and responsible use of public funds at the county level.
Speaking on the matter, Senate leaders insisted that governors, like all public officers, are subject to parliamentary oversight.
They cited the Constitution, which grants the Senate the mandate to protect county interests and oversee the use of national revenue allocated to devolved units.
Governors cannot pick and choose which laws to obey,” said a senior senator, adding that appearing before committees is not optional but a constitutional obligation. “If you manage public money, you must account for it.”
Also read
- Ruto Slams Gachagua: “You’re an Idler, Don’t Lecture Me on NYOTA!”
- Oburu Oginga’s Power Play: Key ODM Leaders Show the Door!
- From 5 to 7 Years: Zimbabwe Just Rewrote Its Constitution for One Man
- Petitioner Seeks Transparency on Cost of National Prayer Breakfast
- Barasa Draws Line: Accountability Yes, Political Blackmail No
Senators further accused some governors of hiding behind devolution to shield corruption, mismanagement, and procurement irregularities from scrutiny.
According to lawmakers, committee summons often arise from audit queries raised by the Auditor-General issues that governors are expected to clarify, not dismiss.
“This narrative that oversight is harassment is false,” another senator stated. “When billions of shillings cannot be accounted for, the Senate has a duty to act.”
The lawmakers also rejected claims that summons should be directed only to county accounting officers such as chief finance officers.
They argued that governors, as chief executives of counties, bear ultimate responsibility for policy direction, expenditure priorities and governance failures.
On their part, governors have maintained that excessive summons disrupt county operations and politicise accountability.
Some have called for structured engagement mechanisms to replace what they term ambush style appearances before committees.
But senators remained unmoved, warning that any refusal to honour summons could trigger sanctions, including budgetary consequences and legal action.
The standoff reflects deeper tensions between the Senate and county governments, especially as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
Oversight, they argue, is increasingly becoming a battleground for political influence and public perception.
As the war of words intensifies, one thing remains clear: the debate is no longer just about summons it is about power, accountability and who ultimately answers to the Kenyan people.
