NAIROBI, Kenya — Samburu County Governor Lati Lelelit narrowly avoided a tense standoff in Parliament on Wednesday as senators attempted to force him to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) to answer audit queries on county spending.
Lawmakers, insisting that governors must personally respond to Auditor‑General findings, had moved to compel Lelelit and other recalcitrant governors to face detailed scrutiny of financial records, a constitutional oversight role the Senate says is non‑negotiable.
The attempt to ‘drag’ Lelelit to the committee turned chaotic when the governor fled the parliamentary precincts rather than submit to questioning, according to sources close to the incident.
While official details about the escape remain limited, the episode comes amid a broader standoff between the Senate and several governors who have repeatedly skipped sittings to answer questions on potential mismanagement of county funds, part of CPAC’s review of the 2024/2025 financial year accounts.
The committee’s chair, Senator Moses Kajwang’, has emphasised that governors’ appearances before CPAC are lawful requirements, not optional engagements, underscoring Parliament’s mandate to protect public interests through financial oversight.
The drama involving Lelelit adds to growing tensions, with other county chiefs, including Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, also facing police action and fines after defying multiple Senate summonses in recent days.
