Governors to Snub Senate Committee Over Alleged Extortion, Humiliation

Governors have threatened to boycott appearances before the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) over alleged extortion, harassment, and intimidation by some senators.

Speaking through the Council of Governors (CoG), the county chiefs on Monday resolved to suspend their attendance at CPAC sessions until their grievances are addressed.

“The Council of Governors notes with great concern the continuous and escalating extortion, political witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and humiliation of governors by certain senators when they appear before the CPAC,” CoG chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said.

Addressing the press during a two-day retreat in Kilifi County themed Re-positioning the Council for Effective Service Delivery in Light of the Political Environment, Abdullahi said the governors’ patience had been exhausted.

“As a Council, we have resolved that governors will not appear before the CPAC until these concerns are addressed through a structured engagement between the leadership of the Senate and the Council of Governors,” he said.

Although Abdullahi did not name the senators involved, he said the council was prepared to submit evidence, including names, should an investigation be initiated.

The governors further called for the reconstitution of the CPAC and demanded an independent probe into the conduct of four unnamed senators accused of orchestrating an extortion ring targeting county officials.

Abdullahi, who is also the Wajir governor, accused the Senate of repeatedly summoning governors over the same audit issues, saying the council had resolved that governors would now appear only once per audit cycle.

“We note with concern that governors are required to appear several times to discuss the same investment matters, including county funds, municipalities, and hospitals. Governors will now only appear once for every audit cycle,” he said.

The CoG said this was not the first time governors had raised concerns over alleged extortion, noting that senators had previously dismissed the claims as attempts to evade accountability.

Governors also accused some senators of turning oversight sessions into public spectacles by installing cameras to live-stream proceedings and distort narratives for political gain.

“The Council reaffirms its commitment to accountability and prudent use of public resources but insists that oversight must be conducted lawfully, ethically, and without abuse of office,” Abdullahi said.

On the worsening drought situation, the CoG appealed for increased support, warning that conditions in arid and semi-arid lands continue to deteriorate.

“We call upon the government, development partners, and other stakeholders to scale up interventions to avert the loss of lives, livestock, and livelihoods,” Abdullahi added.