City Affairs

Senate committee proposes motion to halt funds for defiant governors

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. (Photo: File)

By Eastleigh Voice Reporter | Monday, April 8, 2024

The proposal follows a summons for Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to appear before the Senate within 14 days to address audit queries.

A Senate committee has suggested a motion to prevent the National Treasury from disbursing funds to counties led by governors who have disregarded audit reports and shown contempt.

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.

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However, such a decision cannot stop the transfer of more than 50 per cent of funds due to a county government.

The proposal follows a summons from the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay), for Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to appear before it within 14 days to address audit queries.

The committee expressed frustration with Sakaja’s repeated absence from Senate committees, suggesting that penalties for such behaviour by public officials needed to be strengthened.

The Nairobi governor was scheduled to address audit queries for financial years 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, during which the city received a total of Sh76 billion.

Kajwang’ questioned why contempt of Parliament doesn’t carry the same weight as contempt of executive or court orders.

“Let us stop money from going to these counties whose governors have shown contempt of the Senate,” the senator said, emphasising the need to hold county chiefs to account.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka called for a motion regarding the conduct of Sakaja and other governors who disregard Senate committee invitations.

His counterpart from Isiolo, Fatuma Dullo, asserted the Senate’s power to send a strong message to Sakaja and other defiant governors by withholding funds from their counties.

“We have powers against these rogue governors. We need to stop money from being released to these counties. This will send a message that we do have powers,” Dullo noted.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna criticised Sakaja for skipping meetings with Senate committees and supported the suggestion for stricter penalties for governors who disrespect the Senate.

Sifuna urged his colleagues to take decisive action against Sakaja and others who fail to comply in the event of audit queries.

“Nairobi is an exceptional case. Sakaja must be brought before the whole House," he said, criticising his work.

Sakaja has not responded to this latest criticism, or explained his absence when he was summoned, but he noted last February that an audit needed to take place to clean up the systemic and financial messes that he said he inherited from City Hall.