By Team

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has re-invited Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to appear before it to explain why he has not arrested Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and presented him before the Committee.

The Inspector General had been scheduled to appear before the Committee on Monday, September 7, 2026, to explain to Senators the circumstances under which the National Police Service has failed to arrest the Governor and produce him before the Committee.

However, Mr Kanja did not show up for the meeting and instead sent a letter, which the Committee rejected, dismissing the reasons advanced therein.

In the letter, the IG said he was scheduled to travel to China on an official visit on the same day of his appearance and requested the Committee to reschedule the sitting to a more suitable date upon his return.

The IG said he had constituted a special team to arrest the Governor and present him before the Committee.

“Apparently, the Governor got wind of it and successfully evaded our dragnet,” he said in the letter.

However, the Committee rejected this line of argument and accused the IG of trivialising an important national matter.

“The wording in the letter is not useful at all,” said Senator Moses Kajwang’, the Chairperson of the Committee, noting that the language was casual.

“It is unfortunate that the impression he creates in the letter is that the NPS is clueless, ineffective and powerless.”

He said Governor Guyo is a well-known public figure and that there could be no excuse for the police failing to arrest him.

“The failure by the police to arrest such a known public figure is sending the wrong signal to the public.”

Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo said the IG was contemptuous of Parliament, accusing him of using every available excuse to avoid appearing before the Senate.

The Senator urged the Committee to convince the Senate to compel Mr Kanja to appear before the plenary and explain why he had not arrested the Governor, who has skipped all the Committee’s invitations and summonses.

“It is not enough for the IG to explain to the Committee his efforts,” said Senator Dullo, adding that the Governor was campaigning across Isiolo in the company of police officers.

“This Committee should move the House to compel the IG to appear before the Committee of the Whole,” she said, adding that the Senate risks losing the trust of the people of Isiolo if it fails to act and ensure the police comply with its directive.

The proposal to summon the IG before the Committee received the support of Senator Samson Cherarkey, the Vice Chairperson of the Committee.

“We are being mob-lynched by the public on matters of accountability. People think we are not serious,” said the Senator.

“Let’s issue the summons because this is contempt. He has defied the invitation and we should make him appreciate the importance of respecting constitutional institutions.”

However, Senator Okong’o Omogeni called for caution as he opposed the issuance of summons against the police chief.

“If we can confirm that his trip to China is legitimate, the best solution would be to give him another date to appear,” he said, warning the Committee against creating enmity with the NPS.

“We have a good working relationship with the IG. Taking the route of issuing summons will take the focus away from the real issue, which is the Governors who are running away from accountability.”

Senator Enock Wambua supported calls to escalate the issue and have the IG taken to the Committee of the Whole.

In his ruling, the chair acknowledged the concerns raised by members and directed that the issues surrounding the challenges facing the County Government of Isiolo and those of the IG should be isolated.

“We reiterate that the IG must appear before this Committee and explain why he has failed to arrest the Governor.”

It was also decided that a special report specific to the challenges facing the budgetary issues and accountability specific to Isiolo be prepared and tabled in the House before October.

Among the recommendations in the report will be a forensic audit of the county’s finances.

By Team

The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has directed Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii to improve Eldoret City’s own-source revenue so as to sustain its growth, fund critical infrastructure development, achieve financial independence, and deliver essential public services effectively to its residents.

During the session, lawmakers expressed deep concerns over the city’s current financial trajectory and its ability to fund critical infrastructure projects.

Senators pointed out that the current annual collection figures remain inadequate to support the expansive demands of the rapidly growing urban centre.

“This is a new city, and your revenue streams are still limited. You are collecting annually Kshs 1.2 billion. Will this amount of money sustain the city?” posed the Committee Chairperson and Wajir Senator Mohamed Abbas, emphasising that a billion shillings cannot meet the basic service delivery and infrastructural requirements of the area.

The directive follows deliberations between the committee and county leadership at Parliament Buildings regarding the governance, financial sustainability, and administrative operationalisation of Kenya’s newest city.

Members of the Committee highlighted that despite total county revenue collections reaching Kshs 6.45 billion over six years, with Eldoret City accounting for Kshs 5.048 billion of that total, the city’s independent revenue generation remains a bottleneck.

Lawmakers noted that without aggressive revenue enhancement strategies, the operationalisation of transferred functions like infrastructure, waste management, and public amenities will face severe funding gaps.

“The city is actually a growing city that needs a lot of infrastructure development. With the minimum collections you’re making, you will not be able to sustain its function and provide services to the residents,” Senator Abbas said.

Senator Margaret Kamar questioned whether the revenue collection system was fully automated and covered every corner of the city, noting that the collections remain extremely low compared to other cities that have appeared before the committee.

Joining the critique, Senator Chute pointed out that revenue collection in the county had systematically dropped from Kshs 1.1 billion in the 2020/2021 financial year to Kshs 1.058 billion in 2025/2026, warning the county executive that Eldoret risks slipping back into a municipality if revenue trends do not improve.

Responding to the Senators’ concerns, Governor Bii explained that the county’s official figures had not factored in revenue collected from health facilities due to appropriations in aid regulations.

He noted that once hospital revenues are fully incorporated, the city’s actual own-source revenue stands at Kshs 1.7 billion, further outlining that the city board is developing a comprehensive strategy to tap into Eldoret’s strong positions in sports, medical services, agriculture, logistics, and education.

“There are ongoing efforts to grow revenues through local infrastructure expansion and international collaborations, including a newly established sister-city investment relationship with the City of Minneapolis in the United States,” Bii said.

Human resource

Beyond revenue performance, the session addressed serious concerns regarding human resource balance and compliance with national diversity mandates.

Committee members put the county leadership to task over the composition of the city board and staff establishment, observing that 90 per cent of employees were drawn from a single community.

Senator Catherine Mumma, the Vice Chairperson of the Committee, warned that non-compliance with the constitutional requirement for inclusivity exposes the board to legal challenges and potential nullification.

Senator Hezena Lemaletian reminded the Governor that Eldoret serves as the primary urban hub for the entire Rift Valley region, making equitable representation for all Kenyan communities a priority.

Governor Bii committed to reviewing the city board’s legal framework and recruitment mechanisms to ensure subsequent appointments reflect the face of Kenya.

The committee granted the county executive time to review the board list, rationalise its human resource structures, and submit a detailed revenue expansion roadmap to ensure the city achieves financial and operational sustainability.

By Team

Sugar farmers and industry stakeholders have raised concerns over the proposed Crops Laws Amendment Bill, 2026, particularly provisions on the management and financing of the sugar sector.

The stakeholders made the submissions when they appeared before the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Tigania West MP, Dr John Mutunga, to give their views on the proposed legislation.

Mr. Nick Oloo of the Kenya Sugar Manufacturers Association (KESMA) questioned whether the proposed changes would add value to existing institutions serving the sugar industry.

He expressed concern that transferring funds from the Sugar Development Levy to KADCO could affect accountability within the sector and alter arrangements established under the Sugar Act, 2024.

Mr. Oloo also cited concerns over the impact of previous legislative changes on the sugar industry, saying the sector had experienced challenges in financing, cane development, factory rehabilitation and farmer support following the enactment of the Crops Act, 2013.

Mr. Atiang Atyang of the Kenya Association of Sugarcane and Allied Products (KASAP) urged the Committee to safeguard the gains made under the Sugar Act, 2024.

“We must protect what was achieved by the Sugar Act 2024. Before its enactment, the sugar sector was receiving the least portion under AFA and the Commodities Fund despite being among the largest sectors,” he said.

Mr. Atyang also raised concerns about the proposed institutional framework, drawing comparisons with the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) and its role in the sugar industry.

Mr. William Kopi, Chairperson of the Butali Sugarcane Farmers Association, said the proposed financing model could affect the relationship between investors, Government and farmers, with possible implications for sugarcane production.

The Bill, sponsored by Leader of the Majority Party, Kimani Ichung’wah, proposes changes to the functions of sector-specific agricultural institutions and seeks to channel relevant funds to the Kenya Agribusiness Development Corporation Limited (KADCO).

Mutunga said the proposed establishment of KADCO was intended to address longstanding challenges in financing the agriculture sector.

The proposed corporation would bring together the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Commodities Fund under an institution anchored under the National Treasury.

“As a Committee, we are seeking to protect the agriculture sector, which we know is poorly funded, rather than take away from the sector by combining the strengths of these two agencies,” said Hon. Mutunga.

Mr. Michael Arum of the Sugar Campaign for Change supported the proposed amendments, saying the focus should be on developing an effective financing framework for smallholder farmers.

“The issue here is not simply which institution should manage the funds. It is simply proposing a financing architecture that will make smallholder farmers organized and finance-able,” said Mr. Arum.

He cited Malawi and South Africa as examples of countries that have adopted similar financing approaches, saying the models had supported the development of their sugar industries.

The Committee is expected to consider the views presented by the various stakeholders as it continues its scrutiny of the proposed amendments.

By Team

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KSSHA) to explain to a House Committee how millions of shillings contributed by public secondary schools were spent.

The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education will summon officials of the Association.

The committee, chaired by Luanda MP Dick Maungu, wants the association to account for funds received from schools after auditors flagged direct payments to KSSHA as irregular.

The inquiry could widen into a nationwide examination of money flowing from public schools to the association, with the committee warning that contributions could run into billions of shillings if aggregated across the country.

The issue emerged during the committee’s retreat at the Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu, where it is examining Auditor-General’s reports for selected high schools for the 2020/21 to 2024/25 financial years.

An audit of Asumbi Girls High School provides an example of the payments under scrutiny. According to the Auditor-General’s report for the year ended June 2024, the school transferred Sh1.247 million to KSSHA.

The Auditor-General questioned the payment, noting that KSSHA is a welfare organisation whose membership comprises school principals and which is not defined within the Government funding system.

The audit found no assurance that KSSHA had effective, efficient and transparent financial management and internal control systems for managing funds transferred by schools.

The payment was found to contravene Regulation 23(2)(c) of the Public Finance Management (National Government) Regulations, 2015, which requires an accounting officer to obtain written assurance from an entity before transferring funds to it.

“Management was in breach of the law, and the value for money realised from the expenditure of Sh1,247,220 could not be confirmed,” the Auditor-General said.

Asumbi Girls Chief Principal Linet Pino Sati told MPs that the money was used to finance co-curricular activities.

“The funds transferred to KESSHA are for conducting co-curricular activities. Each year KESSHA sends requests to schools for funding the budget for co-curricular activities and Asumbi Girls High School is not exempted,” Ms Sati said.

Maseno School Principal Peter Owino Otieno similarly defended the payments, saying they supported student welfare and participation in sports, drama, music and other competitions.

“The payments were purely for student welfare and co-curricular activities,” Mr Owino said, adding that failure to pay could lock students out of regional and national competitions.

Nyabururu Girls High School Principal Joyce Orioki said KSSHA also coordinates activities at grassroots and zonal levels, with contributions generally calculated according to student enrolment.

She acknowledged, however, that the association’s accounts were not audited, an issue she said needed to be addressed.

But Hon. Maungu said the explanations raised more questions because KSSHA is a private members’ organisation receiving money from public institutions.

“What is coming out clearly is that most of these schools contribute money to an organisation known as KSSHA,” he said.

One school examined by the committee had paid about Sh6 million to KSSHA over five years, while another had paid approximately Sh5 million.

“These are billions if you convert them into all the schools in the country,” Mr Maungu said.

“We want to find out whether KSSHA is a recipient of public money and whether the activities they are undertaking are audited by the Auditor-General.”

Kiminini MP Hon. Maurice Kakai Bisau described KSSHA as a private club and questioned why public schools should transfer funds to an organisation outside the formal government structure.

“KSSHA remains a private club managed by members of the teaching fraternity,” Mr Bisau said.

Lungalunga MP Hon. Chiforomodo Mangale said the committee must establish the legal basis for the payments.

“We must start from the point of understanding how these funds are transferred. KSSHA is an association for teachers and school heads, but it has no direct relationship with government,” he said.

Hon. Maungu said the committee was not questioning the importance of co-curricular activities but the legality and accountability of the funding mechanism.

“The education activities may be good and necessary, but that does not mean public funds can be transferred outside the framework of the law,” he said.

The committee will summon KSSHA officials to explain the association’s legal status, its relationship with the Ministry of Education, the amount of money received from public schools and how the funds are accounted for.

By Sandra Blessings

In a move aimed at strengthening coordination, accountability and efficiency in service delivery, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) commissioned its Hospital Management Committees for this financial year.

This was aimed at strengthening coordination, accountability, and efficiency in the delivery of specialised healthcare services.

The committees, which include technical and professional experts from across the hospital, will support the Executive Management in implementing the hospital’s strategic priorities, policies, and annual work plans.

Speaking during an inaugural meeting with the newly appointed chairpersons of the various committees, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of JOOTRH, Dr Joshua Clinton Okise, told of the importance of the committees in driving institutional performance and ensuring that management decisions translate into tangible improvements in patient care.

“The chairpersons should take full responsibility for their respective mandates and ensure that their committees become effective platforms for identifying challenges, providing technical advice and proposing practical solutions,” he said.

He particularly emphasised the need for the committees to understand and adhere to their Terms of Reference (TORs) and objectives, noting that their work should be aligned with the hospital’s strategic plan, approved annual work plans, applicable laws and regulations, Ministry of Health policies and professional standards.

The committees are expected to provide technical and professional advice to management, monitor performance within their respective mandates and identify institutional, operational, clinical and financial risks, together with appropriate mitigation measures.

They will also play a critical role in promoting quality, efficiency, accountability and value for money while ensuring compliance with relevant policies, standards and regulatory requirements.

According to the approved Terms of Reference, the committees will further monitor the implementation of management decisions and committee resolutions, promote evidence-based decision-making and strengthen coordination between departments and directorates.

“The committees must move beyond meetings to measurable action, with their deliberations contributing directly to improved service delivery, patient safety, institutional performance and achievement of JOOTRH’s strategic objectives.

The committees will also be expected to identify gaps in service delivery and recommend corrective action, while supporting continuous quality improvement and innovation across the hospital,” he said.

He directed the chairpersons to ensure effective reporting, with the committees expected to prepare periodic reports for consideration by the CEO and Executive Management Committee.

The establishment and commissioning of the committees comes at a critical period for JOOTRH as the hospital continues to expand its role as a national teaching and referral facility and strengthen its capacity to provide specialised healthcare services.

The committees are therefore expected to serve as an important link between technical teams and executive management, providing structured mechanisms for problem-solving, performance monitoring, risk management and implementation of institutional priorities.

The move reinforces JOOTRH’s commitment to good governance, accountability, transparency, effective internal controls and improved clinical and operational outcomes as the hospital implements its 2026/2027 work plan.