Senate summons Governor Nyongo over use of COVID-19 funds

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o has been summoned to appear before the Senate Health Committee on Friday.

The governor faces a Ksh. 500,000 fine or a warrant of arrest if he fails to honor the summon to appear for the virtual session.

Governor Nyong’o did not appear before the committee on Tuesday, April 20, despite being invited by advertisements in the Standard and Daily Nation, according to the committee.

“The Committee may impose upon you a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or may order for your arrest pursuant to sections 19 (1) and 19 (3). Respectively, of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017,” the summons read.

According to the committee, by failing to appear on Tuesday, the governor’s actions are an offense under Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act 2017.

“You may also be guilty of an offence in terms of section 27 (: (a)(i) and 27 (1) (c) (i), respectively, of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, For which you shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred both such fine and imprisonment.” the committee said.

He has also been directed to email all documentation on which he intends to rely during the hearing.

The governor had been summoned to respond to audit questions concerning an alleged misappropriation of COVID-19 funds.

Meanwhile, the governor said Kenya’s decreasing COVID-19 positivity rate is as a result of lack of testing kits.

According to Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, who chairs the council’s health committee, testing across all counties has slowed down due to lack of testing kits.

“This therefore means that county governments have no control over the increasing number of infections,” the Kisumu Governor said in a statement on Wednesday.

He warned that the virus is spreading rapidly and could overstretch the county health facilities.

“We therefore urge the Ministry of Health to avail rapid testing kits (antigens) and PCR COVID-19 testing equipment to all counties to stem the spread of the virus,” he added.

The latest statistics show that Kenya has a 9.6 percent COVID-19 positivity rate with total number of cases at 154,392, while total number of deaths are 2,560.