The constitutional war between Kenya’s two levels of government has escalated sharply, with Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii throwing his full weight behind the Council of Governors' (CoG) explosive decision to suspend all appearances before the Senate.

Governor Bii’s endorsement of the boycott is a significant escalation, lending influential Rift Valley support to a rebellion that threatens to paralyze the nation's oversight mechanisms. The Governors are accusing the Senate—specifically the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC)—of transforming from a watchdog into an attack dog, allegedly using their summons not to audit books, but to harass, intimidate, and extort county chiefs. This is no longer a debate about accounting; it is an open accusation of criminality within the legislative house.

The "Witch-Hunt" Allegations

The CoG, led by Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, has drawn a red line, citing a "continuous and escalating extortion, political witch-hunt, and humiliation" by senators. Governor Bii echoed these sentiments, arguing that the Senate has overstepped its mandate. "We are accountable to the people, yes, but we will not be punching bags for senators seeking rents and political mileage," Bii stated, reinforcing the collective resolve of the 47 county bosses.

• The Extortion Claim: The most damaging allegation is that specific senators are using the threat of adverse audit reports to demand financial kickbacks from Governors. If true, this represents a complete capture of the oversight process, turning the Senate floor into a marketplace for protection rackets.
• Kingi’s Warning: Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has fired back, warning that the boycott is unconstitutional and that the Senate’s oversight power is absolute. However, his threats ring hollow against a united front of Governors who control the grassroots machinery and are now refusing to play by the Senate's rules.
• The Standoff: The immediate casualty is accountability. With Governors refusing to appear, billions of shillings in county expenditures remain unscrutinized. The CoG is demanding a "structured engagement" before resuming cooperation, effectively holding the audit process hostage until their terms are met.

A Crisis of Devolution

This stalemate exposes the deep structural flaws in Kenya’s devolution implementation. The adversarial relationship between Senators (who want to be Governors) and Governors (who want to be left alone) has toxified the oversight ecosystem. Governor Bii’s stance signals that the county chiefs feel emboldened enough to challenge the Senate’s authority directly, betting that the public is more tired of Senate theatrics than they are suspicious of County corruption.

As the standoff hardens, the Senate finds itself on trial. To force the Governors back to the table, it must clean its own house and disprove the grave allegations of extortion. Until then, the empty chairs at the Senate committee rooms serve as a silent protest against an oversight system that, according to Governor Bii, has lost its moral authority.