Accountability standoff as Senate rejects governors’ demands

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The Senate has sharply rebuked governors over their decision to suspend appearances before key audit committees, warning that the move undermines the Constitution and weakens accountability in county governments.

In a strongly worded statement, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi dismissed claims by the Council of Governors (CoG) that Senate committees are engaging in harassment and political witch-hunts.

He said oversight of county finances is a constitutional duty that cannot be negotiated or suspended.

“The Senate exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to county governments as provided for under the Constitution,” Kingi said, adding that Parliament is required to consider and dispose of audit reports within strict timelines.

Mr Kingi cautioned that any action that delays or obstructs the audit process threatens accountability and the prudent use of public resources.

He insisted that compliance with audit timelines is “not optional”.

The Speaker also criticised the CoG for demanding the reconstitution of the County Public Accounts Committee, saying grievances against senators should be raised through established institutional channels rather than through public statements and media pressure.

While maintaining that the Senate remains open to structured dialogue, Mr Kingi warned that public accusations unsupported by evidence risk damaging intergovernmental relations and public confidence in oversight institutions.

In response, governors say their decision to step back from audit committees is not an attempt to evade scrutiny but a protest against what they describe as an increasingly hostile oversight environment.

According to the CoG, county officials appearing before the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPIC) have faced intimidation, repeated summons and questioning that goes beyond audit findings.

Governors argue that some officials are summoned multiple times over the same audit queries within a single audit cycle, disrupting county operations and diverting time and resources from service delivery.

They also claim oversight has become selective, with some counties subjected to intense grilling while others with similar audit issues face minimal scrutiny, creating perceptions of political targeting.

To address this, the CoG says it wants structured engagement with Senate leadership and a review of how audit committees operate, including limiting appearances to once per audit cycle.

The standoff now leaves the audit process in limbo, exposing a growing fault line between the Senate and county governments over how oversight should be enforced without paralysing devolution or compromising accountability.