Munya in court to block arrest, prosecution

The Council of Governors chairman and Meru County Governor, Peter Munya, has moved to court to block his arrest.

Senate ordered Munya be arrested after he failed to honor summons to respond to audit queries.

Munya says the summons are illegal.

In July, Munya snubbed the Senate summon to respond to audit queries in his County.

Senate’s Public Accounts Committee termed the snub by Munya as a move to evade queries raised in the Auditor General’s report.

Committee Chair and Kisumu Senator, Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, said they would issue summons to the Governor for the last time failure to which he will be prosecuted.

Munya, who chairs the Council of Governors (COG), has on several occasions asked Governors not to appear before the Senate, accusing Senators of using the sittings to intimidate them and malign their names.

“I consider this a very serious trend and the committee now resolves to summon Governor Peter Munya on July 27th, he must appear,” said Nyong’o.

In June 2016,  Senate Speaker, Ekwee Ethuro, said that Governors have no option but to abide by summons to appear in person before House committees.

Ethuro said Governors must honour such calls since “it is constitutional and non-negotiable”.

“Appearance before the Senate and its committees cannot be pegged to the fulfillment of any pre-conditions set by the Council of Governors as the chair suggested,” said Ethuro.

Additional reporting by Maureen Murimi