Governor Orengo declines Senate grilling over CoG standoff

Siaya Governor James Orengo on Monday declined to be questioned by a Senate watchdog committee, citing an ongoing standoff between the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Senate over accountability procedures.

Appearing before the Senate Public Accounts Committee chaired by Moses Kajwang’, Orengo maintained that while he had honoured the summons and submitted the required documents, he would not proceed with the session until the dispute between governors and senators is resolved.

“The committee is aware there is a stalemate between the Council of Governors and the Senate about appearing before this committee,” Orengo said.

He added: “I am seeking the indulgence of the committee. Having produced the documents, I would not be comfortable moving any further step in defiance of the resolution of the Council of Governors. I urge the committee and the CoG to resolve that question, so I beg to decline to move beyond appearance and taking of oath.”

Governors, through the CoG, have accused the Senate of harassment and overreach, arguing that some committee appearances have been turned into political showdowns rather than accountability forums.

Senators, however, insist that their oversight role is anchored in the Constitution and is critical in ensuring prudent use of public resources.

Responding to Orengo’s stance, Kajwang’ said the committee would consider adjournment but emphasised that compliance with Senate summons is not optional.

“If the governor finds himself in a situation where he is not ready to proceed, then I advise that we adjourn the meeting and consult on the way forward,” Kajwang’ said.

He added: “When the Senate summons you, it is not an invitation to a birthday celebration that you can accept or deny. It is a constitutional obligation, and we hope other governors will do so. We cannot build a society where the law is not upheld.”

At the start of the session, Kajwang’ acknowledged that the governor had complied with part of the committee’s requirements.

“We required the Siaya governor to appear before the committee, and he is here. We also required the governor to circulate certain documents ahead of the committee meeting, which was complied with,” he said.

The senator further stressed the legal weight of parliamentary summons, noting that they carry the same authority as court orders.

“Summons issued by the Senate are at the same level as summons issued by the courts. And the governor, being a well-known legal practitioner, is here. It would have been strange if he defied summons of the Senate,” Kajwang’ said, before asking whether Orengo was ready to proceed with the agenda.

In his response, Orengo clarified that his earlier absence from the committee was not an act of defiance but a result of overlapping invitations from different Senate committees.

“The invitation prior to the summons was at a time we had other invitations to appear before other Senate committees. We did not choose to come to this committee not for any particular reason. No disobedience was intended,” he said.

He reiterated his respect for constitutional authority, adding: “I would never want to defy directions given by legitimate authority under the law or Constitution.”

The standoff between the Senate and the Council of Governors has raised concerns over the future of county oversight, with senators warning that continued non-compliance could affect the approval of county budgets and funding.