MOMBASA County— Feb 12, 2026—Tensions between county governors and the Senate escalated this week as several governors refused to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over allegations of financial mismanagement, sparking warnings of possible arrests.
Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka criticised the governors’ stance, saying their refusal undermines accountability and raises questions about their role in the alleged misuse of public funds.
“Governors must appear before the Senate and National Assembly committees to explain how they use public funds in their counties. They must be held accountable. No leader is above the law,” Wamboka said while speaking in Mombasa.
Wamboka, who chairs a parliamentary committee on Investment, Good governance, and Education, also faulted the governors for attempting to dictate who may sit in Senate committees. He urged Senators to uphold their constitutional and legal responsibilities and resist intimidation.
The standoff has roots in a letter from the Council of Governors to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, demanding the removal of four Senators — Moses Kajwang’, Edwin Sifuna, Samson Cherargei, and Johnes Mwaruma — from the PAC. The governors accused the Senators of harassing some county executives during previous hearings.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja intervened, warning that any governor who ignores a lawful Senate summons risks arrest, prosecution, and compulsory attendance before the committee.
“If a governor is summoned and fails to appear, we will take appropriate action. They will be arrested, charged in court, and forced to respond before the Senate,” IG Kanja said.
The Senate PAC oversees the use of public funds at the county level, examining audit reports submitted by the Auditor-General. Recent audits have highlighted alleged irregular expenditure, unsupported payments, and procurement breaches in multiple counties.
Governors argue that the Senate is overstepping its oversight mandate, claiming that accountability should be managed within county governments or through other legal frameworks. Senators, however, maintain that their role is constitutionally mandated to safeguard public resources and ensure transparency in county spending.
Legal experts say the standoff could escalate to a constitutional showdown, with courts likely asked to clarify the limits of Senate oversight over county executives. Analysts warn that prolonged defiance could deepen political tensions and erode public trust in governance institutions.
The confrontation highlights a growing rift between county governments and national oversight institutions, emphasizing the challenges of balancing devolution, accountability, and constitutional mandates.
