The Council of Governors has accused Senators Edwin Sifuna, Moses Kajwang, Samson Cherargei and Johnes Mwaruma of extortion, intimidation, political witch-hunts and harassment during oversight appearances, demanding their removal from relevant committees to restore confidence in the process.
The Council of Governors has formally accused four senators of engaging in extortion, intimidation, political witch-hunts and harassment during oversight engagements, demanding their immediate removal from the affected Senate committees as a precondition for restoring trust and integrity in the process.
In a strongly worded statement released on February 6, 2026, the Council named Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Moses Kajwang (Homa Bay), Samson Cherargei (Nandi) and Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta) as the senators whose conduct has undermined the constitutional oversight role of the Senate and created a hostile environment for governors.
Council Chairperson and Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the decision followed numerous complaints from governors across political divides. “We have documented repeated instances where these senators have used oversight platforms to demand personal favours, threaten unfounded investigations and subject governors to public humiliation instead of genuine accountability,” Kang’ata said. “This is no longer oversight; it is extortion and intimidation disguised as legislative duty.”
The Council specifically accused Sifuna of leading aggressive questioning sessions aimed at embarrassing governors rather than seeking policy clarity. Kajwang was cited for allegedly pressuring county officials for unofficial payments in exchange for favourable committee reports. Cherargei and Mwaruma were similarly accused of turning public hearings into political theatre, often leaking selective information to the media to damage reputations.
“The behaviour has made governors dread appearing before these committees,” Kang’ata added. “We are not opposed to robust oversight—we welcome it—but it must be conducted professionally, fairly and within the law. The current conduct of these four senators has crossed every red line.”
The Council has formally written to the Senate leadership and the Parliamentary Service Commission demanding the immediate removal of the named senators from all committees handling county affairs, including the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.
“If the Senate fails to act, we will have no choice but to reconsider our participation in committee sessions involving these individuals,” Kang’ata warned. “We cannot continue subjecting ourselves to harassment under the guise of oversight.”
Senator Sifuna dismissed the accusations as a deflection tactic. “The Council of Governors is trying to run away from accountability,” Sifuna said. “When governors are asked legitimate questions about misuse of funds, stalled projects and ghost workers, they cry foul and accuse us of intimidation. We will not be silenced.”
Moses Kajwang described the demands as “laughable.” “They want us removed because we ask hard questions,” Kajwang said. “If governors have nothing to hide, they should welcome scrutiny instead of threatening to boycott committees.”
Samson Cherargei accused the Council of attempting to muzzle the Senate. “We are elected to represent the people, not to massage governors’ egos,” Cherargei said. “This is an attack on devolution and separation of powers.”
Johnes Mwaruma said the move exposed governors’ discomfort with oversight. “If they fear being asked about public money, then they should not hold public office,” Mwaruma said. “We will continue doing our job without fear or favour.”
The standoff has raised concerns about the future of intergovernmental relations. The Senate has constitutional oversight over counties, but governors argue that the process must be fair and not abused for political gain.
Analysts say the dispute reflects deeper tensions between the Senate and county executives. “This is a power struggle disguised as principle,” said political scientist Dr Martin Ouma. “Governors want less scrutiny; senators want more visibility. The real loser is the public, which needs both accountability and functional devolution.”
The matter is expected to be discussed at the next Senate plenary session, where the leadership will have to decide whether to act on the Council’s demands or defend the accused senators.
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