The Council of Governors (CoG) has formally accused four Senators—including Nairobi’s Edwin Sifuna—of using their oversight powers to extort and intimidate county chiefs.

This unprecedented naming and shaming threatens to paralyze the Senate’s watchdog functions, exposing deep-seated rifts between the two levels of government that could derail accountability for billions in devolved funds. In a strongly worded letter to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, the governors described the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) hearings as a theatre of political witch-hunts rather than objective audits.

The Accused Quartet

The CoG has singled out four specific senators: Moses Kajwang (Homabay), Johnes Mwaruma (Tana River), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), and Samson Cherargei (Nandi). The governors allege that these lawmakers have orchestrated a pattern of "harassment, intimidation, and extortion" during committee appearances. The accusations mark a significant escalation from vague complaints to direct confrontation.

• Oversight or Overreach? The governors argue that while they respect Article 96 of the Constitution, the conduct of these senators undermines the spirit of mutual respect required for inter-governmental relations.
• The Ultimatum: The CoG has suspended appearances before the CPAC until "structured engagement" with the Senate leadership establishes clear safeguards against political persecution. They are demanding the removal of the four senators from the oversight committees.

Senate Fires Back

In a swift rejoinder, the Senate has dismissed the claims as a smokescreen to evade accountability. Speaker Kingi termed the suspension of appearances as unconstitutional, reminding the governors that oversight is not a favor but a mandatory obligation attached to the public funds they administer.

This standoff leaves the taxpayer in the middle. With billions of shillings at stake, the paralysis of oversight mechanisms benefits no one. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-19)The coming days will require cool heads to untangle the legitimate need for accountability from the toxic politics that now threatens to consume it.