The Senate Public Accounts Committee has renewed its order directing Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to arrest and produce Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo before the committee, after the governor once again skipped a scheduled session over unresolved audit queries.
Governor Guyo failed to honour Monday’s 2 p.m. summons before the committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’, instead sending a letter through the County Secretary requesting a postponement over what he described as prior official engagements. The letter stated that his excellency would be unable to attend the meeting on the scheduled date due to commitments confirmed before he received the invitation.
Senators were unimpressed by the timing of the communication, noting that both the committee and the Auditor-General’s office only received the letter at around 12:30 p.m. on the day the governor was due to appear, despite the summons having been served electronically on July 17 and physically on July 20. Kajwang’ said the committee had been deliberately patient to ensure fair administrative process before resorting to an arrest order, stressing that appropriate notices had been given and repeated invitations ignored.
The committee also demanded an explanation for why a similar arrest warrant issued on July 9, after Guyo’s first no-show, was never executed, directing the Inspector General to appear alongside the governor to clarify the earlier lapse.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei led calls for tougher action, describing the governor as a “fugitive of transparency and accountability” and arguing that county chiefs unwilling to account for public funds should step aside. Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo backed the arrest order, saying stalled projects and poor service delivery had left residents suffering while looking to the Senate for accountability.
The Public Accounts Committee is investigating audit queries tied to Isiolo County’s 2024/25 financial statements after auditors complained of incomplete documentation that hampered their review. Beyond seeking Guyo’s appearance, the committee resolved to summon the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for a progress report on related investigations, and warned it may also engage the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Treasury if non-compliance persists.
The Senate further cautioned that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama Adam remain on its radar over similar concerns about honouring summons, signalling a broader push to enforce parliamentary oversight over county governments ahead of the 2027 polls.
Governor Guyo has not responded publicly beyond his rescheduling letter, and it remains unclear whether he will appear before the Senate within the newly set timeline.
