Governors suspend appearance before Senate committees

The Council of Governors has suspended appearances of Governors before Senate Committees on grounds that they have been subjected to mistreatment and humiliation.

Speaking Tuesday at Delta Corner offices during a press briefing, the chairman of the Council of Governors, Peter Munya, said that whereas Senate has oversight powers, they cannot take over the responsibility of the oversight by the county assemblies and that the demeaning attitude of members of the Senate towards Governors is improper and uncalled for.

“The recent actions by the Senate to depict the Governors as incompetent, inept, and corrupt is unacceptable,” noted Munya.

He referred to the Wednesday, June 15th, 2016 violent disruption of the Senate Public Accounts Committee session when Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko engaged in a verbal exchange prompting a near physical fight with Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero, after he accused Kidero of murder, causing the committee to abruptly adjourn the session.

The Governors have consequently accused Senate members of treating the Governors disrespectfully and disgracefully, pointing that the Senate is attempting to use PAC as a political forum to gain political mileage.

“We have even questioned their power in a court of law and the court pronounced itself on this matter, the Governor is the last person to be summoned after all officers and the Senate is not following this,” read part of the statement.

Munya, who was accompanied by Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya also lamented that the PSC Committee has failed  to stick to issues of contention when Governors appear before them, exposing the Governors to unwarranted attacks that flout the standing orders.

The Governors have vowed to abscond Senate summons until their queries are fully and appropriately addressed, with assurance from the concerned parties that Governors will be treated respectfully.