A fresh standoff has emerged between the Senate and county governments after the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) ordered the production of Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo before Parliament for failing to appear before the committee.
The directive was issued during a meeting between the committee and officials from the Isiolo County Government. CPAC chairperson Moses Kajwang expressed frustration over what he said were repeated failures by the governor to honour invitations from the Senate.
The committee said it had made several attempts to secure the governor’s attendance without success. Senators argued that they could no longer delay their work and had decided to invoke legal provisions that allow Parliament to compel witnesses to appear before it.
Kajwang said the committee was relying on powers granted under Article 125 of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act.
According to the committee, these laws provide a framework for enforcing attendance when a person summoned by Parliament fails to appear.
“We are short of time because we must close the 2024/2025 financial year to give way for the 2025/2026 audits. We don’t have the luxury of writing love letters and pleading with the governor,” Kajwang stated.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo. Photo/File.
He went further and directed the police to ensure the governor appears before the Senate on the specified date.
“We will not be bogged down in semantics of summons and invitations. We hereby direct the Inspector General of Police to produce the Governor of Isiolo to the Senate on Monday, July 20, at 2 pm.” he added.
Representatives from the Isiolo County Government told the committee that Governor Guyo was unable to attend because he had engagements with the County Assembly.
However, senators rejected the explanation and maintained that the governor was required to honour the Senate summons.
The latest directive adds to an ongoing dispute between governors and the Senate over the powers of parliamentary committees. County leaders have previously questioned the practice of issuing arrest orders against governors who fail to appear before Senate committees.
The matter brings back memories of a similar confrontation involving Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja earlier this year. Police officers had camped at City Hall on March 30 following orders linked to his failure to appear before the same committee.
At the time, Sakaja denied claims that he had intentionally ignored the summons. He explained that his actions were guided by a collective position taken by the Council of Governors, which had resolved not to appear before the committee.
The Council of Governors later moved to court seeking orders to stop senators from issuing arrest warrants against county bosses. However, the court declined the request and ruled that the Senate and its committees have powers similar to those of a court during certain proceedings.
The court further noted that parliamentary committees can issue such orders when individuals summoned before them fail or refuse to attend.
