Tensions between county governments and the Senate have escalated sharply following a dramatic standoff that now threatens to undermine the fragile balance of devolution.
In a strongly worded statement, the Council of Governors condemned what it termed a “lawless attempt” by senators to compel governors to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee. COG chairman Ahmed Abdullahi’s statement was triggered by an alleged confrontation involving Samburu governor Lelelit Lati, which governors described as an “assault” and a sign of deepening hostility between the two arms of government.
At the centre of the dispute is a long-running power struggle over oversight. The Senate is constitutionally mandated to oversee county governments and safeguard public resources.
However, governors have increasingly pushed back, arguing that some Senate committees—particularly the Public Accounts Committee—have overstepped their role, turning accountability sessions into political battlegrounds.
The latest incident has amplified those concerns. Governors now accuse senators of intimidation, harassment, and “witch-hunting,” while the Senate insists it is merely executing its constitutional duty to hold county executives accountable for billions in public funds.
This is not the first time the relationship has frayed. Over the past few years, governors have repeatedly skipped Senate summons, citing ongoing court cases and disputes over jurisdiction. In several instances, legal interpretations of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 have been invoked to argue that governors should instead account to county assemblies rather than the Senate directly. The courts have at times issued conflicting rulings, further muddying the waters.
Political analysts say the friction reflects deeper structural tensions within Kenya’s devolved system. Devolution created 47 county governments with significant autonomy, but also left overlapping accountability mechanisms. While the Senate provides national-level oversight, county assemblies are expected to serve as the primary watchdogs. The resulting duplication has often led to turf wars rather than cooperation.
In his statement, Abdullahi accuses the Senate of having abdicated her responsibility to protect the interests of the devolved units and using unorthodox means that are not in tandem with their constitutional mandate to enforce law.
“It is disheartening that this very House has resorted to witch-hunting, harassment, violence and intimidation. We explicitly condemn these acts as they constitute a conduct that does not befit the office of a Senate and the high repute expected of them,” Abdullahi said.
On Wednesday, a group of Senators tried to forcibly drag Lati to Parliament Police Station as he addressed journalists outside the parliamentary precincts. Senators had earlier last week issued a warrant of the governors for allegedly ignoring committee summons.
The confrontation involving Governor Lati appears to have pushed the dispute into a more volatile phase. By framing the incident as an attack on the dignity of a governor and a violation of constitutional protections, the Council of Governors is signalling that it may pursue legal and political countermeasures. The threat of legal action against senators marks a significant escalation.
On the other hand, senators have previously accused governors of using procedural arguments to evade scrutiny. Billions of shillings allocated to counties each year have made oversight a politically charged exercise, with public pressure mounting over allegations of mismanagement, stalled projects, and opaque procurement processes.
The standoff also comes at a time when intergovernmental relations are already strained. Disputes over revenue allocation, delayed disbursements from the national government, and calls for increased county funding have heightened political temperatures. In this context, clashes between governors and senators risk paralysing critical governance functions.
Observers warn that continued hostility could erode public confidence in both institutions. The Senate’s credibility as an oversight body depends on its ability to act impartially and within the law, while governors must demonstrate transparency and accountability in managing public resources. When confrontations turn physical or overly politicised, both sides risk losing legitimacy.
Some experts suggest clarifying the legal framework governing Senate oversight through legislative amendments or a definitive court ruling. Others argue for strengthening intergovernmental forums to encourage dialogue rather than confrontation.
Ultimately, the dispute underscores a fundamental challenge in Kenya’s governance architecture: balancing autonomy with accountability. As the country continues to refine its devolved system, the relationship between governors and senators will remain a critical test of institutional maturity.
The clash has laid bare a widening rift—one that, if left unresolved, could weaken the very foundations of devolution it was meant to protect.
