A fresh standoff is brewing between county governors and the Senate following accusations of harassment and intimidation during audit sessions.
The Council of Governors has warned that its members may boycott Senate audits unless concerns over the conduct of some senators are urgently addressed.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has taken a bold stance, declaring that governors are not afraid of threats of arrest or imprisonment allegedly issued by members of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee.
Speaking during a governors’ retreat in Kilifi County, Kahiga accused four senators of using audit forums to humiliate and intimidate elected county leaders instead of focusing on accountability.
He insisted that governors are constitutional office holders and should be treated with respect while discharging their mandate.
Kahiga told senators to carry out their oversight role professionally and within the confines of the Constitution, warning against turning audit sessions into platforms for political grandstanding.
He maintained that governors are willing to cooperate with the Senate but only through structured engagement involving Senate leadership.
According to Kahiga, county leaders will not honour further summons until their grievances are formally addressed.
The Nyeri governor also dismissed threats of jail, saying imprisonment should not be used as a weapon to silence leaders.
He questioned the notion that governors could be frightened by prison, noting that public service requires courage and accountability.
Former Senate Speaker and current Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka echoed Kahiga’s remarks, saying the governors’ concerns are genuine and should not be dismissed lightly.
Lusaka stressed that governors have not refused to account for public funds, pointing out that they have consistently appeared before Senate committees.
He argued that persistent conflict within the audit process risks undermining the Senate’s credibility and weakening oversight institutions.
Meanwhile, senators have rejected claims of extortion and harassment, insisting that appearing before the Senate is mandatory and not optional.
As the standoff escalates, pressure is mounting on Senate leadership to intervene and prevent a complete breakdown in relations.
Observers warn that failure to resolve the dispute could disrupt accountability mechanisms and strain intergovernmental relations at a critical time for county governance.