Summoned governors get reprieve

BY KURIAN MUSA

Governors summoned by the Senate will have to wait for court ruling next Wednesday to know whether to honour the call to answer questions on county government finances.

Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, on behalf of the nine summoned governors, mounted a spirited argument before Justice Mumbi Ngugi seeking orders to stop the witness summons from being implemented.

The Senate’s committee on Economic and Finance Affairs summoned the governors to appear before it from today.

“We have served the Senate and its clerk the application and there is a return of service in the court file,” Mr Abdullahi said.

Abdullahi drew the court’s attention that the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate had not sent any representative in court to respond to the application of the nine governors summoned.

Addressing the court, Abdullahi said: “This petition raises weighty constitutional matters and fundamental issues on governance. The petition is to determine if the country is run by the law or money.”

The counsel expressed optimism that the court would address the issues raised. He highlighted the summonses, saying the first page is superficially within the law but on the last page, he accused the Senate of overstepping its mandate and taking over the work of the county assemblies.