The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has summoned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to appear before it and explain his failure to arrest Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and present him before the committee.
Kanja had been scheduled to appear before the Senate on Monday, September 7, to account for why the governor had not been arrested despite an earlier directive by the committee.
However, the police chief did not attend the session, instead sending a letter informing the committee that he was scheduled to travel to China and would therefore be unable to appear.
In the letter, Kanja explained that he had established a special team tasked with apprehending Guyo and bringing him before the committee.
He claimed, however, that the governor obtained information about the planned arrest and managed to evade the police operation. "Apparently, the Governor got wind of it and successfully evaded our dragnet," Kanja stated in the letter.
The committee dismissed the explanation and ordered Kanja to appear in person to account for the failed operation.
CPAC Chair Moses Kajwang criticised the contents of Kanja's letter, arguing that the explanation portrayed the National Police Service (NPS) as incapable of enforcing the committee's directive.
"The wording in the letter is not useful at all. It is unfortunate that the impression he creates in the letter is that the NPS is clueless, ineffective and powerless," stated Kajwang.
He maintained that the failure to apprehend Guyo despite his public profile raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the police service.
"The failure by the police to arrest such a known public figure is sending the wrong signal to the public. We reiterate that the IG must appear before this Committee and explain why he has failed to arrest the Governor," he added.
The Senate had earlier directed Kanja to arrest Guyo and present him before the committee after the governor failed to honour summons requiring him to appear before CPAC.
Despite the directive, the police boss did not produce the governor, prompting the committee to demand an explanation for the unsuccessful arrest.
Guyo is expected to appear before the Senate to respond to audit queries raised over the use of billions of shillings allocated to Isiolo County.
The committee has also involved the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), directing the agency to investigate allegations of possible misuse of public funds in the county.
The Senate has maintained that county governments must account for public resources and provide explanations for financial discrepancies highlighted by the Auditor-General.
