Senate threatens censure motions against CSs Mbadi, Wahome, Kinyanjui over snubbed summons

The Senate has issued a stern warning to Treasury CS John Mbadi, Lands CS Alice Wahome, and Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui, accusing them of deliberately undermining parliamentary oversight by ignoring official summons and evading questions.

The three Cabinet Secretaries now face possible censure motions, as senators decry what they describe as growing impunity and disregard for the authority of the legislative arm by members of the Executive.

CS Mbadi has been accused of persistently disregarding both House plenary sessions and committee sittings. Earlier this month, Mbadi snubbed the Senate once again, sending a letter just 30 minutes before a scheduled sitting to inform the House of his absence, claiming “he is busy with other engagements.”

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi described the letter dated May 6 as “contemptuous,” noting that it failed to provide a valid reason for the CS’s absence.

“You (senators) have a weapon to handle such kind of errant ministers according to Standing Order 51(d) of the Senate to send a clear message to the Executive,” Kingi said.

“Time has come for you to invoke the provisions of the Standing Order and move a censure motion so that this Senate can regain its respect and ministers can acknowledge that this is a House that speaks for and on behalf of the people.

He recalled that a previous Wednesday morning sitting of the Senate nearly collapsed after no Cabinet Secretary showed up to respond to questions.

“We have talked, lamented and vented our frustrations enough. It is time you invoke the Standing Order and move an official censure motion against some of the ministers so that we can see some seriousness going forward,” Kingi said.

The Senate’s frustration stems from a pattern of defiance by the Treasury CS.

Attended political rally

In a recent case, Mbadi failed to appear before the Senate Finance and Budget Committee, choosing instead to attend a political rally in Migori County alongside President William Ruto. After the rally, he appeared in a local television interview, prompting outrage among legislators.

During a previous interaction with the committee, Mbadi reportedly told senators to refer to responses he had shared with the National Assembly, bypassing Senate oversight. This prompted a stern warning from senators who told him to stop treating the Senate as a “village baraza” where he can decide whether to appear or not.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua said Mbadi was gaining notoriety for showing contempt toward the Senate.

“The minister did the same thing to us on Tuesday in the Finance and Budget Committee. He was clever by half, claiming that he was attending a Cabinet meeting, yet he was in a rally in Migori,” he said.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale condemned the CS’s actions as “arrogance of the highest level,” while Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana said, “It is highly disrespectful, and such ministers must be called to order. Shame on such ministers.”

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• Senate threatens censure motions against CSs Mbadi
• Wahome

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna criticised the last-minute communication by Mbadi.

“If a minister decides to write a day to the meeting, then that is absolute contempt, and they must be called out. John Mbadi must know that, as a House, we are unhappy that he has time to attend rallies and television interviews but no time for us,” Sifuna, who is also the ODM Secretary-General, said.

National importance

Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo added that Senate questions are of national importance and ministers cannot simply disregard them.

“We also have other engagements, but we are here. This is the time for action, and we want to see that action. We should amend our Standing Orders to surcharge ministers who don’t excuse themselves three days before the date to appear before the House,” she said.

Lands CS Alice Wahome is also on the receiving end of the Senate’s wrath after she skipped scheduled appearances before the Senate Lands Committee seven times.

The committee, chaired by Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, had summoned her to respond to seven petitions concerning land disputes, pollution, and forced evictions across the country.

“A summons is higher than an invite. So we have summoned her. Kenyans have many problems affecting them, especially in matters of land. Her failure to attend the meeting is affecting many people,” Faki said.

Act of contempt

Kirinyaga Senator James Murango likened Wahome’s failure to appear to an act of contempt.

“If you give an old man with no teeth sugarcane to chew, it is no longer a gift but contempt. We are not happy that she has failed to attend,” he said.

In an attempt to make amends, Wahome requested to appear before the committee on any date between May 12 and May 15.

Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui, meanwhile, has been summoned twice by the Senate Trade Committee, chaired by Kwale Senator Issa Juma.

The former Nakuru governor had skipped both sessions, citing prior commitments. He asked the senators for understanding as he adjusted to his new role.

“I apologise for the situation and I promise it will not happen again in future,” Kinyanjui said.

“I am still settling in and dealing with a heavy transitional workload.”

Senators are now mulling over invoking Standing Order 51(d), which provides for the censure of Cabinet Secretaries who fail to appear before the Senate without reasonable cause.