A high-stakes Senate session turned into a spectacle of confusion as a Governor mysteriously disappeared from the precincts just minutes before his grilling.

The corridors of power in Nairobi were abuzz with disbelief yesterday when Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki failed to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC), despite being spotted within the Parliament buildings earlier that morning. The situation escalated into a dramatic search operation, with the Sergeant-at-Arms dispatched to scour holding rooms, corridors, and even restrooms, only to return empty-handed.

The Vanishing Act

Governor Njuki was scheduled to answer to grave queries raised by the Auditor General regarding the expenditure of county funds. The Committee, led by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’, sat waiting, files open and cameras rolling. When the Governor's name was called, there was only silence. "We saw him. He was here," a bewildered Senator remarked. "How does a Governor just evaporate?"

The absurdity of the moment was not lost on the Senators, but the mood quickly turned to anger. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei demanded immediate and severe consequences, branding the Governor’s conduct as "contemptuous" and "disrespectful" to the institution of Parliament. "This is not a game of hide-and-seek," Cherargei thundered. "This is about accountability for billions of shillings belonging to the people of Tharaka Nithi."

• The Search: The Sergeant-at-Arms reported, "I have gone up to the first floor, Room 3, where we allocated him a holding room. Nobody is there. I have moved around all places he might be, including the washrooms. He is not there."
• The Defense: Hours later, a spokesperson for the Governor surfaced, claiming Njuki had not fled but had left in frustration after being kept waiting for over two hours while the committee attended to the Kitui Governor.
• The Stakes: The audit queries in question involve significant discrepancies in procurement and project implementation, issues that could attract criminal investigations if not satisfactorily explained.

A Crisis of Accountability

This incident highlights the growing friction between the Senate and the Council of Governors. Senators accuse county bosses of treating oversight with disdain, while Governors often complain of harassment and poor time management by the committees. However, walking out—or "vanishing"—is an escalation that tests the powers of the Senate to summon and compel witnesses.

As the dust settles, the Committee has vowed to issue a fresh summons, this time with the threat of police enforcement if the Governor fails to present himself. For Governor Njuki, the "vanishing act" may have bought him a few hours, but it has undoubtedly intensified the spotlight on his administration's financial dealings.