The Senate has declared total war on accountability fugitives, rejecting Garissa Governor Nathif Jama's request to skip a crucial audit session. In a stinging rebuke, the oversight committee has ordered the Governor to cancel his "planned foreign travel" and face the music over billions in unexplained expenditure.

The days of Governors playing cat-and-mouse games with the Senate appear to be over. The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), chaired by the no-nonsense Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, has drawn a line in the sand. Governor Nathif Jama, who was scheduled to answer grave questions regarding the 2024/2025 financial year, attempted to secure a postponement citing an overseas trip. The Senate's response was a swift and emphatic "No."

"Accountability Before Luxury"

"Travelling out of the country is not a constitutional obligation," Senator Kajwang ruled, dismissing the Governor's letter as "vague" and "unjustifiable." The committee noted that the Governor did not even disclose the destination or the purpose of his trip, fueling suspicions that it was merely a tactic to avoid scrutiny.

The stakes are high. The Auditor General has flagged multiple discrepancies in Garissa County's books, ranging from stalled projects to questionable procurement deals. The Senate has now issued a summons, the final warning before more drastic measures are taken.

• The Ultimatum: Governor Jama must appear before the committee on the rescheduled date or face arrest.
• The Treasury Option: Senator Kajwang revealed the committee is exploring legal mechanisms to ask the National Treasury to stop funds disbursement to counties whose bosses defy summons. "If they cannot account for the money, they should not receive more," he warned.
• The Travel Ban: In a broader directive, the CPAC has advised all Governors to "put on hold" foreign travel until March, when the audit review cycle concludes.

A Pattern of Defiance

Governor Jama is not alone. Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and Mombasa's Abdulswamad Nassir have also been in the Senate's crosshairs for skipping sessions. Senator Samson Cherarkey lamented that Governors have become the "weakest link" in devolution, treating accountability as an optional inconvenience.

As the standoff escalates, the message to the Council of Governors is clear: The Senate is watching, and the runway for evasive maneuvers has run out.