Senate accuses Sakaja, Kihika of contempt for snubbing summons

The Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee has threatened to take action against two governors for snubbing summons to answer audit queries involving water companies in their counties.

The Committee Chairperson Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga Senator) said that Governors Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) and Susan Kihika (Nakuru) had for the third failed to appear before the committee which he termed as a sheer display of contempt on their oversight role.

Osotsi accused Sakaja of failing to appear before the committee yesterday on the pretext that he was out of the country yet he was seen on television watching a soccer match between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in the company of President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Sunday.

"Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is summoned to appear before this committee on a day to be communicated by the Clerk of the Senate, failure to which they will invoke the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act seeking to have the Police to arrest him," he said.

Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina wondered why the Nairobi governor would deliver a letter on Friday, May 12, but dated May 15, to say that he will not be available for appearance before the committee only to be seen on TV watching a soccer match.

Osotsi said that Kihika who was supposed to appear before the committee today morning had also written a letter to the committee saying she was out of the country. "This is the third time Kihika has written a letter to the committee saying she was out of the country," he said.