Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has come under fire from senators after failing to arrest and produce Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo before the Senate despite a warrant of arrest against the county boss.
The move comes as the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) said they are going to recommend to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to declare Governor Guyo unfit to hold public office.
Further, the committee chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ is considering pressing perjury proceedings against Mr Kanja for lying to them, under oath, that his officers will not hesitate in effecting warrants of arrest orders against “rogue” governors snubbing Parliamentary summonses.
The IG had in February this year assured the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) that no public officer is above the law and his officers are ready to enforce committee directions on warrants of arrest by arresting and presenting such county bosses before the relevant committees.
Mr Kanja told the committee the National Police Service is committed to supporting Parliamentary committees in the discharge of their oversight mandate.
“I am ready to arrest and present governors who fail to honour summonses by Senate oversight committees, provided you give me the time and date you want them presented before you,” said Mr Kanja, adding that his officers are always ready to comply with the committees’ directives.
However, yesterday the IG came under fire for failing to arrest and produce before CPAC, Governor Guyo who is facing arrest for blatantly snubbing the committee’s summonses.
The committee had last month given IG Kanja 10 days, with a deadline of August 6, 2026, to arrest and produce before the committee Mr Guyo at 10am.
The warrant of arrest against Governor Guyo was issued by the committee after he snubbed a summon by the committee to account for use of public funds by his administration.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo speaks to the media after attending a church service at PCEA Kayole Parish in Nairobi on September 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
Senator Kajwang’ said the IG neither responded to their letter calling for the arrest of the first term governor nor produced him before the committee.
Section 19 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act outlines the procedure and penalties when a summoned witness fails to appear before a House of Parliament or its committee.
Section 19(1) of the Act states that where a witness summoned does not appear, or appears but fails to satisfy the relevant House of Parliament or committee, the relevant House or Committee may impose upon the witness such a fine, not exceeding Sh500,000.
Sub-section 3 adds that Parliament or its committee may order the arrest of a person who fails to honour a summons.
“We gave the IG good notice to arrest and produce Governor Guyo before this committee but that has not happened. If he lied before us while promising us that he will not hesitate taking action against rogue governors, then that is perjury which is a criminal offence,” said Mr Kajwang’.
Perjury is the criminal offense of intentionally telling a lie or giving false information after taking an oath or formal promise to tell the truth in a court of law or official legal proceedings.
Chairperson Senate County Public Accounts Committee Senator Moses Kajwang' during a session at the Bunge Tower, Nairobi.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
A Parliamentary committee acts in a quasi-judicial manner when it holds hearings, summons witnesses, administers oaths, and investigates specific charges or public conduct.
“The IG made us promises and we want to test them with this Isiolo case who continues to play hide and seek with this committee,” added Senator Kajwang’.
The senator said Isiolo County is being run like a criminal enterprise and Governor Guyo has no option but to account for billions of shillings of taxpayers’ money disbursed to the county government.
“Other governors, including the Council of Governors chairperson, have appeared before this committee. What is so special about Isiolo governor?” posed Senator Kajwang’.
“You might think you are too powerful today because you have powerful friends but there will come a day when your 40 days will run out. Those who have attempted to play games like Guyo is doing have failed and their sins have followed them even after leaving office,” he added.
Senator Kajwang’ said the Auditor-General has flagged damning financial improprieties in successive financial years and it is now upon the committee to come up with specific recommendations on the audit queries for purposes of further investigations and prosecution by relevant bodies.
“Governor Guyo has undermined both Parliament and the Constitution and it is now time to recommend he be declared unfit to hold public office and EACC be asked to follow up on audit queries raised by auditors,” said Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.
“If you don’t want to account for public funds sent to your administration, then do the honourable thing and resign,” he added.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo told the committee there is no service delivery going on at the county with the governor operating from Nairobi while residents suffer.
She claimed that the county government is on autopilot with offices locked, critical services grounded and letters of appointments are being dished out in the streets like sweets without following due process.
“This is blatant impunity. He brags in public that he will not appear before the Senate and there is nowhere you will take him. Accountability is not politics. Isiolo people need to know where their money is going,” said Ms Dullo.
