The Council of Governors (CoG), under Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, has announced a suspension of county bosses’ appearances before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), citing serious allegations of political witch hunts, as well as intimidation, harassment, and extortion by certain senators.

Speaking from Kilifi during a Governors’ Retreat, Abdullahi stated that governors would only resume appearances after structured engagement with Senate leadership to address their grievances, emphasizing their concern over “continuous and escalating extortion, political witch hunt, harassment, intimidation, and humiliation” during accountability sittings.

The CoG specifically named four senators—CPAC Chairperson Moses Kajwang, Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey—accusing them of abusing the oversight committee to settle political scores with county leaders rather than focusing solely on accountability for public funds.

Governor Muthomi Njuki clarified that the suspension targets these individuals only, not the Senate at large, while highlighting that the full CPAC membership includes additional senators such as Okong’o Mogeni, Enoch Wambua, and Fatuma Dullo.

Beyond CPAC, governors have also raised concerns over the frequency of summonses from the County Public Investments Committee (CPIC), resolving that each governor will appear only once per audit cycle for queries regarding funds under their stewardship.

These measures come amid intense scrutiny over irregular expenditures, including Bungoma County’s Sh3.6 million Christmas tree lighting in 2019 and Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo’s challenges answering questions on Sh5 million spent for a housewarming event for a county assembly speaker’s residence.

The CoG’s firm stance underscores mounting tension between Kenya’s devolved units and the Senate’s oversight function. By demanding respect and an end to perceived abuses of power, governors are signaling that no county leader will appear before parliamentary committees without assurances that accountability sessions will be conducted professionally and free from intimidation.