Senators Push to Halt Funding for Counties as Governors Snub Audit Summons

The Senate has initiated a motion to freeze the disbursement of funds to county governments whose heads of executive fail to appear before oversight committees. This move follows a string of skipped hearings where governors were expected to respond to specific audit queries raised by the Auditor General.

In a motion seen by Citizen TV, senators expressed concern that the continued failure by governors to honor summons exposes taxpayer money to plunder. The lawmakers argued that the lack of appearance weakens the oversight of public funds, particularly those allocated for large-scale development and infrastructure.

The Senate Standing Committee on County Public Accounts and Investments, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, has been at the forefront of these demands. The committee is currently reviewing reports for the financial year ending June 30, 2025, which include details on county revenue funds and the management of pending bills.

According to the committee, some governors have consistently avoided sessions by citing prior engagements or official travel. In recent weeks, several county bosses reportedly missed scheduled appearances to attend political gatherings, prompting the committee to explore stricter legal measures under Article 225 of the Constitution.

This constitutional provision allows for the stoppage of fund transfers to a public entity in the event of a serious or persistent material breach of financial obligations. Senators contend that refusing to account for billions of shillings in public expenditure constitutes such a breach.

The impact of such a freeze would be immediate for county operations. It could stall ongoing construction projects, delay payments to contractors, and affect the settlement of pending bills, which currently stand at billions of shillings across several devolved units.

The Council of Governors has previously hit back at these threats, claiming that the oversight committees have occasionally been used for political intimidation. However, the Senate maintains that its mandate is strictly to ensure that the national revenue allocated to counties is utilized transparently and effectively.

To implement the freeze, the Senate would need to pass a resolution, which then requires the Controller of Budget to oversee the restriction of withdrawals from the County Revenue Fund. This process is intended to compel accountability before any further resources are released for the current fiscal year.

The current standoff highlights the tension between the two levels of government regarding the management of devolved resources. While governors argue for autonomy, the Senate insists that no further funding can be justified without a clear audit trail of previous allocations.

As the deadline for considering the Auditor General's reports approaches on March 31, the Senate has warned that it will no longer accept last-minute apologies for non-appearance. The committee has clarified that only one justifiable request for postponement will be granted per county before sanctions are triggered.