Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has issued a scathing indictment of county leadership, demanding the immediate prosecution of governors implicated in corruption scandals. Cherargei warned that the rampant looting of public funds is an existential threat to devolution, turning the dream of grassroots development into a nightmare of graft.

The outspoken senator argues that the Senate’s oversight role is being undermined by governors who treat summons with contempt and view public coffers as their personal bank accounts. "Devolution risks losing its meaning if we allow this level of impunity to continue," Cherargei stated. He is calling for a multi-agency crackdown involving the EACC and the DCI to arrest and charge county bosses who cannot account for the billions disbursed to their units.

The Looting Epidemic

Cherargei’s outburst follows a series of Auditor General reports revealing massive discrepancies in county expenditures. From ghost workers to inflated procurement tenders, the methods of theft have become increasingly brazen. The Senator pointed out that while the national government disburses funds, the impact is rarely felt on the ground because the money is siphoned off by cartels surrounding the governors.

"We see governors buying luxury homes and flying in private jets while dispensaries lack medicine," he lamented. His call to action includes a proposal to bar governors facing corruption charges from accessing their offices, similar to the precedent set in previous administrations.

• The Demand: Immediate prosecution of corrupt governors and recovery of stolen assets.
• The Threat: Cherargei warns that unchecked corruption will lead to the collapse of the devolved system of government.
• Oversight Battle: The Senator accuses governors of using "marginalization" as an excuse to avoid accountability before the Senate.

A Test for Institutions

The Senator’s remarks place the spotlight firmly on Kenya’s investigative agencies. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the pressure is mounting to show tangible results in the war on graft. Cherargei’s stance resonates with a public tired of headlines about stolen billions and stalled projects.

If devolution is to be saved, as Cherargei insists, the era of the "untouchable governor" must come to an end. The ball is now in the court of the EACC and the Director of Public Prosecutions to turn these demands into convictions.