Governors Warned Over Senate Oversight Boycott Comments
A number of Human Rights watchdogs and the National Integrity Alliance (NIA) have expressed concern over the Council of Governors’ (CoG) decision to boycott the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.
The boycott comes after governors claimed that some senators were participating in extortion, harassment, and political witch-hunting during oversight hearings, forcing the CoG to stop appearances before CPAC and call for the committee’s reconstruction.
Civil society groups opposed the action in a joint statement made on February 16, 2026, stating that it represents an attempt to avoid accountability and undermines constitutional checks and balances.
The collection of human rights groups reaffirmed Articles 96 and 125 of the Constitution, stating that the Senate is obligated to oversee the use of national revenue allotted to counties and has the authority to summon any state executive, including governors, to appear before it.
“The CoG’s boycott undermines the rule of law and constitutional principles that all public officers must be accountable for their use of public resources,” the statement read in part.
Recognizing the gravity of the senators’ bribery and misbehavior charges, human rights organizations urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to conduct an independent investigation.
Council of Governors boycotts Senate Public Investments Committee over bribery claims pic.twitter.com/5S78HXOHzp
— K24TV (@K24Tv) February 10, 2026
The numerous rights groups condemned both national and local authorities for insufficient financial control, claiming that delays in auditing reports and weak legislative monitoring facilitated widespread exploitation of public funds.
Additionally, the groups, which have collectively branded themselves ‘Okoa Uchumi’, highlighted that Governors and county officials were violating Article 229 (4) of Kenya’s Constitution.
The clause sets a six-month strict timeline to invalidate the Auditor General’s audit reports as a way to avoid the summons and embolden financial impunity.
The civil societies further warned that the standoff threatened public trust in devolution, especially at a time when citizens were demanding transparency and accountability from their leaders.
ALSO READ:
- Gov’t Issues Nairobi Railway City Progress Report Ahead Of July Completion Deadline
- CS Mbadi Allocates Ksh50 Billion To Ruto’s ‘Singapore Dream’ Projects
- Gov’t Increases eCitizen Fees As Basic Services Set To Cost More
- Meth Worth Ksh10 Million Nabbed At JKIA Packed On Handmade Clothes
- Court Rules On Amos Kimunya’s Ksh 60M Land Case, Frees Trio Implicated
They urged both the Senate and the CoG to respect their constitutional roles and called on the EACC, ODPP, and Auditor General to fast-track investigations and make their findings public.
The coalition of human rights groups issued nine demands, which included the prosecution of corruption-related offences, disciplinary action against senators, governors, and county officials culpable of extortion, and the timely publication of audit findings.
Senators Fight Back Hard
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 10, 2026
Senators are accusing governors of trying to dodge accountability, following a threat by the CoG to boycott Senate sittings
Senators warns that any governor who skips the sessions will face disciplinary action.#NTVTonight @zeynabIsmail @david_muthoka7 pic.twitter.com/SEc6MVj7W9
The groups warned that if state institutions failed to act, Kenyans would be forced to take civic and judicial action to uphold integrity and accountability in governance.
Some of the human rights groups that signed the statement are Transparency International Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Mzalendo Trust, and The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).
Governors Warned Over Senate Oversight Boycott Comments
