Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has taken firm action by instructing Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to arrest Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo for repeatedly failing to appear before Senate committees.
Kingi stated that the Inspector General of Police, in accordance with his mandate under Article 245 (2) (b) of the Constitution, must provide the necessary support to the committees to ensure the governor’s appearance.
“This is not a favour that the Senate or its committees are asking of the Inspector General of Police,” he said in his message to the House on Tuesday.
Kingi said defiance displayed by the governor in respect to invitations and summons of the Senate cannot persist.
“If recourse to the courts become necessary, such actions will be robustly pursued. It is also open to Isiolo Senator and any other senator to use legislative mechanisms available under Standing Orders including a censure motion to deal with the errant behaviour of the governor,” he stated.
Governor Guyo has been summoned multiple times to respond to critical audit queries regarding recruitment, human resource practices, and financial mismanagement in his county.
Despite several opportunities and postponements granted by the Senate’s Labour and Social Welfare Committee, chaired by Senator Julius Murgor, Governor Guyo continued to defy the summons.
In an attempt to enforce accountability, the Senate imposed a Ksh 500,000 fine on him, and Speaker Kingi’s latest directive seeks to ensure his appearance before the committee.
Governor Guyo, in his defense, accused the Senate committee of being used to wage local political wars, a claim the senators denied, emphasizing the importance of oversight and accountability in governance.
The Senate maintains that its role is purely to uphold transparency and ensure that public funds are used properly, without being drawn into local political conflicts.
