Senate watchdog committees have issued a stern warning to corrupt governors and county officials, declaring their commitment to holding them accountable.
This comes as the committees revealed a strategy to navigate a legal obstacle that could have allowed governors to evade scrutiny. The Senate, leveraging its expertise in devolution, plans to begin publicly assessing county performance.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi sounded the warning after being re-elected as chairpersons of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee and the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, respectively.
Kajwang’ emphasized that his committee would take a firm stance against corruption in the counties, targeting officials who embezzle or mismanage public funds.
“We are going to go after corrupt individuals in the counties. We will be ruthless with governors and county officials who misuse public resources,” he stated.
He further noted that his committee would soon engage the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to address county graft. According to Kajwang’, over 100 corruption cases have been referred to the commission for investigation, but little action has been taken.
To circumvent a court ruling restricting Parliament from reviewing audit reports beyond three months after receiving them from the Auditor General, Kajwang’ proposed a new approach. His committee plans to consolidate all reports into one motion for debate, allowing the House to provide clear directives on holding governors accountable.
“We will bring all reports to the House in one motion, push for an extended debate period, and make comprehensive recommendations,” he said.
“The House will then instruct CPAC to summon specific governors for questioning and ensure resolutions are implemented.”
