Governors Convene Urgent Meeting After Amason Kingi Postpones Senate Talks

By Kimagata Marindany

Governors have planned a meeting to discuss the next move after Senate Speaker Amason Kingi called off an engagement between governors and Senate leadership

The senate speaker decry what he called contempt of parliament by Governors for his decision to suspend indefinitely the planned meeting.

In a letter dated February 25, 2026, addressed to CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, Kingi said the meeting set for Thursday had been deferred after most governors failed to honour summonses to appear before the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPIC).

Kingi said the invitation for dialogue had been conditional on governors complying with constitutional provisions requiring them to appear before Senate committees when invited or summoned.

He accused the county chiefs of undermining the Senate’s oversight mandate under Article 96 of the Constitution and ignoring Parliament’s powers under Article 125 to summon witnesses.

The Speaker further warned that the governors’ absence had disrupted consideration of Auditor-General reports, with the constitutional deadline of March 31 — set under Article 229(4) — fast approaching.

“In the circumstances, the condition stipulated in the earlier letter having remained unfulfilled, the meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026, is hereby deferred until such time as the Governors shall appear before the respective Committees when invited or summoned,” Kingi wrote.

The standoff follows a resolution by governors to suspend appearances before the Senate Public Accounts Committee, accusing four unnamed senators of intimidation, harassment, political witch-hunts and extortion.

Speaking during a press briefing in Kilifi last month, Abdullahi said governors would not appear before the committee chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang until their concerns are addressed through structured dialogue with Senate leadership.

“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,” Abdullahi said.

He alleged that some oversight hearings had turned into hostile political forums, with governors kept waiting for hours and subjected to political pressure.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki clarified that the dispute is not with the Senate as an institution but with the conduct of four specific senators.

“We have no issue with the Senate or its committees. Our problem is with four senators in CPAC. They know themselves. These four are involved in extortion, harassment and intimidation of governors,” Njuki said.

Governors have also signalled plans to scale back appearances before the County Public Investments Committee, citing what they term as excessive and repetitive summonses.

“Governors are required to appear several times to discuss one hospital, then another investment. This is not sustainable,” Abdullahi said.

He further raised concerns about procedural conduct during committee sittings, including the alleged use of bloggers instead of official parliamentary communication channels and intimidation of auditors.

“At times, auditors are so intimidated that they end up saying things that are contrary to what is contained in the Auditor-General’s report. We cannot continue like this,” he said.

Abdullahi warned that governors may seek judicial intervention to clarify the scope of the Senate’s oversight powers.

“If we must go back to court to interpret what oversight is and what appearances should entail, we are ready to do so,” he said.

He maintained that governors remain committed to accountability and constitutional oversight.

“This is not about avoiding oversight. It is about ensuring that oversight is conducted in a professional, respectful and constitutional manner,” Abdullahi added.

The Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee is currently reviewing Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu’s reports on county financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2025.

The committee is also examining County Revenue Fund reports for all 47 counties, with hearings scheduled between January 26 and March 16, 2026. Courts have directed the Senate to conclude its review by March 31.