Police camped outside City Hall in Nairobi on Monday in a dramatic escalation of a standoff between the Senate and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, as authorities moved to enforce an arrest order over his failure to honour summons.
Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said officers had been deployed to arrest the governor after he repeatedly failed to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC).
The committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, had directed the Inspector General of Police to produce Mr Sakaja before it to answer audit queries relating to the 2024/2025 financial year.
Tension gripped City Hall as officers took positions at key entry points, with reports indicating the governor had been within the premises earlier but was not found when police moved in.
The Senate panel has taken a hardline stance, warning that failure by governors to appear before it undermines its constitutional oversight role.
“We are asking the Inspector General to produce Governor Sakaja before this committee,” Mr Kajwang said in a previous session, adding that continued defiance could attract further sanctions.
The committee has already fined Mr Sakaja Sh500,000 for contempt after he skipped several summons without providing satisfactory reasons.
The developments underscore growing friction between the Senate and county chiefs, with governors in the past accusing the oversight body of being punitive, while senators insist attendance is mandatory.
Efforts to reach Mr Sakaja for comment were unsuccessful by press time.
