The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has summoned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to appear before it next week to explain his failure to comply with committee directives to arrest and present Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit. The committee says the governor has repeatedly defied its summons, undermining parliamentary oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Committee members accuse Governor Lelelit of persistently snubbing appearances before CPAC despite being cited on several occasions. In one instance, the governor was fined Sh500,000 for contempt of the committee. CPAC now says it will seek to verify whether the fine was paid using public funds, a move that would constitute a further violation of the law and ethical standards governing public office.
Tensions escalated earlier this week after reports emerged that Governor Lelelit attended a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meeting at State House on Monday—the same day he was expected to appear before the committee. Legislators described the move as a deliberate act of defiance and questioned why law enforcement agencies had failed to act on clear instructions to secure his attendance.
“The committee issued lawful directions which have been ignored. We want the Inspector General to explain why those orders have not been enforced,” a member of the committee said, adding that continued disobedience sets a dangerous precedent for public officials facing scrutiny.
Further compounding the matter, the Office of the Auditor-General has revealed that the Samburu County government has failed to respond to audit queries for two consecutive financial years—2023/2024 and 2024/2025. The unresolved queries relate to the county’s financial management and expenditure, raising fresh concerns over transparency and possible misuse of public resources.
CPAC maintains that Governor Lelelit’s continued absence has stalled efforts to resolve the audit issues and account for public funds. The committee has warned that it will pursue all available legal options to enforce compliance and uphold its mandate.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja is expected to appear before the committee next week as pressure mounts on the police service and the Samburu County leadership to respect parliamentary oversight and the rule of law.
