NAIROBI, Kenya — The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has directed Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to produce Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja before the committee on Monday, March 30, escalating a standoff over accountability proceedings.
CPAC Chairperson Moses Kajwang warned that failure by the Inspector-General to ensure Sakaja’s appearance could trigger a resolution declaring the governor unfit to hold public office.
Such a recommendation, he said, would be forwarded to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for consideration.
“We are asking the IG to produce Governor Sakaja before us on Monday, March 30. The distance between the IG’s office and City Hall is not the distance between the IG’s office and Samburu, so the IG should not give us excuses,” Kajwang said.
“In case he fails to appear, we can take a recommendation to the House that we find him in gross violation of the Constitution and therefore not fit to hold public office,” he added.
The committee also imposed a fine of Sh500,000 on Sakaja—the maximum penalty allowed under the law—for failing to honour its summons. Senators said the sanction underscores Parliament’s constitutional oversight mandate over county governments.
CPAC is seeking the governor’s response to audit queries raised in the 2024/2025 financial year report by the Auditor-General, which flagged Nairobi County for alleged irregularities and possible misappropriation of public resources.
During the session, the committee further raised concerns over staffing at City Hall, noting that Sakaja had at least seven advisors earning an average monthly salary of Sh203,000 each, a matter senators said required justification.
Following the governor’s continued absence, the committee resolved that it would adopt the Auditor-General’s report as presented if he fails to appear. “If the governor chooses not to appear before this committee, then we will go with the Auditor-General’s report as is because it is a report that has been procured and processed by a constitutional body,” Kajwang said.
Sakaja has previously skipped multiple CPAC sessions, at times writing to request rescheduling. His absence reflects a broader standoff between governors and the Senate over oversight processes.
In February 2026, the Council of Governors (CoG) accused Senate committees of intimidation and humiliation during proceedings, prompting some county chiefs to boycott summons. The CoG argued that certain oversight practices undermine the dignity and authority of governors.
The committee has also summoned 29 other governors and warned that failure to appear could attract sanctions, including being cited for contempt of Parliament.
