Senate team wants Meru Governor Munya arrested for snubbing summons

Meru Governor Peter Munya could be taken to a Senate committee in handcuffs after the lawmakers decided to issue tough sanctions on grounds that he had snubbed their summons.

The County Public Accounts and Investments Committee directed the Clerk of the Senate to ask the Inspector-General of Police, Joseph Boinnet, to have Mr Munya arrested and taken before the team.

Mr Munya had been summoned to meet the committee on Monday after failing to honour invitations to discuss audit queries on the expenditure of Meru County in the 2013/14 financial year.

Mr Munya, who was attending a Council of Governors (CoG) meeting, sent a team led by County Finance Executive Jacob Kirera to the committee.

However, the team, which had three bulky suitcases and two boxes of documents, was sent back by the senators.

PARLIAMENT TAKES PRECEDENCE

“The law says that attendance of parliamentary committees takes precedence over any other business unless and until Parliament gives you permission to do otherwise.

"The action we will take shall be communicated to him procedurally,” said Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o, the chairman of the Senate committee.

The committee was angered some more in the afternoon when Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma also sent representatives as he was attending the same CoG meeting.

“They are actually testing us,” said Nominated Senator Martha Wangari.

Nyamira Senator Kennedy Mong'are said: “There is a scheme by the governors and their club to muzzle this committee.

Kiambu Senator Paul Kimani Wamatangi said the governors’ council appeared to have elevated its status and was competing with Parliament.

“A small entity like that cannot become a challenger to the authority of Parliament,” Mr Wamatangi added.