Sifuna: Senate should cut funding non compliant governors

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna during Senate proceedings on February 19 /SCREENGRAB

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has urged the Senate to take drastic action against county chiefs who defy oversight, urging lawmakers to cut funding to non-compliant governors.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Sifuna thanked the Senate leadership, including Speaker Amason Kingi and majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot, for backing the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) in its efforts to hold governors accountable for the use of public resources.

He said the committee’s work is critical in safeguarding devolution and ensuring transparency across all 47 counties.

"Mr Speaker, I want the chair to bring that motion that we had agreed should be brought here so that we stop funds going to some of these people's counties so that they can appear," Cheruiyot said.

The Nairobi senator clarified that not all governors are resisting oversight. According to him, only a handful of governors have consistently refused to honour summons to appear before the committee. He accused this group of not only evading accountability but also influencing others to do the same.

In a startling revelation, Sifuna narrated an incident where a governor who had agreed to appear before the committee was allegedly advised otherwise at the last minute.

He claimed that the governor delayed proceedings after receiving a phone call from his colleague, who reportedly warned of unspecified consequences should the meeting proceed.

“Can you imagine we had a situation last week where a governor who chose to attend kept us waiting because she was on phone being given directions,” Sifuna told the House.

He described the incident as shameful and deeply troubling, arguing that such actions undermine the spirit of accountability and cooperation between county governments and the Senate.

Sifuna said political affiliation should not shield leaders from scrutiny.

His remarks come amid growing concerns within the Senate over the reluctance by some governors to appear before oversight committees. CPAC plays a key role in examining audit reports from the Auditor General and ensuring counties account for how they spend public funds.

To address the issue, Sifuna called for firm and immediate action, including financial sanctions against non-compliant counties. He urged the committee chairperson to table a motion that would enable the Senate to withhold funds from counties whose governors fail to honour summons.

He stressed that cutting funds, though drastic, may be necessary to compel accountability and restore order in county governance.

The senator maintained that adherence to oversight processes is non-negotiable, warning that continued defiance by governors cannot be tolerated.