Wetang’ula Pushes for Criminal Sanctions as Governors Defying Parliamentary Summons
Speaking during a youth empowerment programme in Mabera, Kuria West Constituency in Migori County on Friday, April 17, Wetang’ula warned that continued disregard for parliamentary invitations—particularly those tied to accountability for public funds—could soon attract legal consequences.
“As Parliament, we will not compromise on oversight. For whom much is given, much more is expected. You cannot take billions of taxpayers’ money and refuse to explain how it has been used,” Wetang’ula stated.
The Speaker expressed concern over what he described as a rising trend of governors failing to honour summons to appear before parliamentary committees, especially in response to reports from the Auditor-General detailing the use of billions allocated to county governments.
He maintained that such actions undermine constitutional oversight and weaken democratic accountability, warning that Parliament is prepared to take decisive action to enforce compliance.
“Governors must understand that they are custodians of public resources, not owners. Accountability is not optional,” he added.
In a move signaling a tougher stance, Wetang’ula tasked Otiende Amollo, a Senior Counsel and Member of Parliament for Rarieda, with spearheading the formulation of legal provisions that would introduce criminal sanctions against non-compliant governors.
The proposed measures are expected to provide a legal framework compelling governors to appear before parliamentary committees or face prosecution for failing to do so.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between county leaders and Parliament, following recent actions by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC). The committee had ordered the arrest of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Samburu Governor Jonathan Lelelit after they failed to honour summons to appear before it.
The attempted arrest of Sakaja triggered a sharp response from the Council of Governors, which accused oversight bodies of using coercive tactics and called for the withdrawal of arrest warrants issued against county chiefs.
Council of Governors Chair Ahmed Abdullahi criticised the approach, arguing that legal action against governors should be grounded in verified evidence and due process rather than what he termed politically driven actions.
“Any action taken against governors must be based on facts and due process, not intimidation or political motives,” Abdullahi said.
Governors have also raised concerns about the manner in which Senate oversight sessions are conducted, describing them as confrontational and, at times, humiliating. Some county leaders have threatened to boycott appearances until their concerns are addressed.
Despite the standoff, Sakaja later appeared before the committee, where he was questioned over alleged financial mismanagement, including the appointment of multiple advisors reportedly earning substantial salaries.
Political analysts note that the escalating dispute reflects deeper institutional tensions over the scope and limits of parliamentary oversight on devolved units. While Parliament insists on its constitutional mandate to scrutinise public expenditure, governors argue that oversight mechanisms must respect the autonomy of county governments.
As calls for stricter enforcement grow, the proposed introduction of criminal sanctions marks a potentially significant shift in how accountability is enforced within Kenya’s devolved system of governance.
The coming weeks are expected to be critical as lawmakers consider the legal framework for the proposed sanctions, while governors weigh their next steps in a dispute that could redefine the balance of power between Parliament and county administrations.
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Wetang’ula Pushes for Criminal Sanctions as Governors Defying Parliamentary Summons
