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{
    "id": 1494334,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494334/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 51,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I hope all Members will listen to this very critical Statement. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52(1) to make a Statement on an issue of general topical concern and national importance, namely; contempt of Senate Committee's invitation by county governors. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in carrying out our oversight mandates over county governments, Committees of the Senate issue invitations to county executive governors to deliberate and interrogate matters within the mandates of respective committees. A trend has developed where some governors have consistently failed to honour invitations by committees. In so doing, they request for postponement of meetings without justifiable reasons. The frequent request for postponement of meetings has greatly derailed the effective discharge of committees' mandates, thus negatively impacting on the oversight mandate of the Senate. Notably, the Governor of Kisii County, His Excellency Simba Arati, has on three invitations in the current calendar year failed to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) on the grounds of traveling outside the country, without the reason as to why he is traveling outside the country. It is just to avert appearing. Further, the Governor of Isiolo County, His Excellency Guyo has failed to appear to various committees, specifically the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. He only sends written responses without communication on his non-appearance and even issues in-person threats to some of the Senators. These governors should be ashamed of what they are doing. The prevalent disobedience of committee invitations amounts to the contempt of the Senate authority, which enjoys the quasi -judicial mechanism of status of the High Court. If unchecked, it will negatively erode the confidence bestowed on the House by the great people of Kenya. Mr. Speaker, Sir, whereas committees have applied Sections 18 and 19 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act to compel witnesses to appear, the penalties imposed by the Act are not deterrent enough. In conclusion, in order to realize optimal cooperation by the entities, the Senate may consider amendments to Article 125 of the Constitution of Kenya and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act to provide higher penalties for violating the Act."
}