Sakaja, Sifuna differ on Senate summons

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. [File, Standard]

The leadership of Nairobi County is tussling with a difference in opinion.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said his boss, Governor Johnson Sakaja will be fined Sh500,000 for failing to honour Senate summons.

Sakaja was summoned to appear before the Senate Energy Committee probing the Embakasi gas explosion but did not show up, according to Sifuna.

“The Senate Energy Committee looking into the Mradi gas explosion in Embakasi has resolved to fine Governor Sakaja another Sh500,000 and requested the IG of Police to arrest and present him to the committee on April 25. He failed to appear again this morning,” said Sifuna in a post on X.

But in a quick rejoinder, Sakaja defended himself saying he has appeared several times before the Senate when required to and will continue honouring the summons.

“Appearing before the Senate is a constitutional requirement which I take seriously. I have appeared severally and will continue to do so. I have no reason not to answer to respond to any questions raised on Mradi or FY 20-22 audits. Sensationalizing a rescheduling and making the Senate appear as if it acts in vain is what belittles the house,” said the governor.

The County boss further accused senators of sensationalizing his whereabouts, adding that other invitees had equally failed to show up due to other commitments such as travel or prior official engagements.

The committee has been probing the Embakasi gas explosion that occurred on February 2, leaving six people dead and over 200 injured.

This is not the first summon by a Senate Committee that the Governor has missed. Earlier this week, he was censured by the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) for repeatedly ignoring summons from the House.

The CPAIC had summoned Sakaja to explain how Sh76 billion was used in four subsequent Financial Years from 2019 to 2023, but he did not comply.