Governors warned against ignoring Senate summons
Kisumu Senator Anyang' Nyong'o at a past event. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Kidero had also expressed fears about his safety after the incident, saying he would not attend the committee sittings in future.
- Prof Nyong’o said the Kidero-Sonko clash was an isolated incident, saying committee hearings are usually held with a level of “decency and decorum”.
The Public Accounts Committee of the Senate has warned governors against failing to honour its summons, saying they will face consequences including arrest as provided for by parliamentary procedures.
The oversight team was reacting to a statement by Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya that governors would not appear before the committee over safety fears.
The governors expressed their unease after last week’s physical confrontation between Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Senator Mike Sonko.
Committee chairman Anyang' Nyong’o said adequate measures had been adopted to ensure the safety of all visitors, including governors.
Dr Kidero had also expressed fears about his safety after the incident, saying he would not attend the committee sittings in future.
“The Speaker of the Senate is seized of this matter and adequate measures have already been put in place to ensure [the] safety of all visitors,” said Prof Nyong’o.
Senators at the meeting said the governors, who have been appearing before the committee to answer accounting queries raised by the Auditor-General on financial transactions in counties, had no choice but to attend.
Prof Nyong’o said the Kidero-Sonko clash was an isolated incident, saying committee hearings are usually held with a level of “decency and decorum”.
“The committee wishes to reiterate the fact that it is not feasible to suspend committee sittings in response to a pronouncement by the Council of Governors. The Senate is an institution mandated by the Constitution of Kenya,” said the Kisumu senator at a press briefing at Parliament.
“In view of this, the committee will still proceed with its sittings as scheduled and it is in the interest of the governors and county residents that they continue to appear as scheduled and advertised,” he said.
Prof Nyong'o said the altercation between Dr Kidero and Mr Sonko was “unfortunate, unnecessary” and against the conduct expected during committee and parliamentary business.
(Reporting by John Njagi; Editing by Beatrice Obwocha and Henry Gekonde)
