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Senate orders the arrest of Governor Sakaja for ignoring summons

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. (Photo: GPS)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | 11 Apr 2024

The Nairobi boss has also been slapped with a Sh500,000 fine for skipping the meeting.

A Senate committee has resolved that the Inspector General of police Japhet Koome should arrest Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

This comes after the Nairobi boss failed to appear before the Energy Committee on Thursday. Sakaja was meant to appear before the Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga-led committee to answer queries over the Embakasi Gas Explosion.

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The committee resolved that IG Koome should arrest and present Governor Sakaja before the committee on April 25, 2024.

The Nairobi boss has been slapped with a Sh500,000 fine for skipping the meeting. The governor also failed to appear before the committee on March 21, 2024, still related to the Embakasi Gas Explosion. He had informed the committee in a letter that he would not appear before the senators due to his attendance at a burial ceremony of Embakasi Central MP MajjaDonk Benjamin Gathiru's Father in Nyeri County.

The members were irked that the Nairobi County Boss sent the letter at 8:15 am stating he would not be present.

In his response through his X account, Sakaja indicated that he has been out of the country for the last week, noting that he had no reasons not to respond to any questions raised on Mradi or FY 20-22 audits.

Appearing before the Senate is a constitutional requirement which I take seriously.

It is the same members who announced that I was out of the country on Monday who are now up in arms that I am away.

I have appeared severally and will continue to do so. I have no reasons not…
— Sakaja Arthur Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) April 11, 2024

This will be the second time, the governor has been fined for snubbing a committee. In November 2023, Sakaja was fined with the same amount for failing to present himself before the Senate Roads and Housing Committee. He had been summoned to shed light on the progress of regeneration projects across city estates.

Last week, another Senate committee suggested tabling a motion aiming to prevent the National Treasury from disbursing funds to Counties led by Governors who have disregarded audit reports and shown contempt towards the Senate.

This was after the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Moses Kajwang' from Homa Bay, called on Governor Sakaja to appear before it within 14 days to address audit queries after he failed to attend the sitting.

The Senators aim to invoke article 225 (3), which allows Parliament to authorise the Finance Cabinet Secretary to halt fund transfers to a State organ or public entity in case of serious or persistent breaches.

However, such a decision cannot stop the transfer of more than fifty per cent of funds due to a county government.

The committee expressed frustration with Sakaja's frequent absence from Senate committees, implying that repercussions for such behaviour by public officials should be reinforced.

Sakaja was scheduled to address audit queries for financial years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, during which Nairobi County received a total of Sh76 billion.