Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen was on Tuesday forced to issue a response after the Africa Journal of Comparative Constitutional Law indicted the Senate on overstepping its mandate.
The Elgeyo Marakwet member absolved the Senate of any blame citing sections of the Constitution that gave it the power to summon governors.
According to the journal report, Senate was at fault for by-passing Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) who are also mandated to hold governors accountable.
"The Senate derives its power from Article 96 of the Constitution and not from journals. Ours is a function of practical governance," Murkomen hit out.
[caption caption="Senator Kipchumba Murkomen"]
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He added: "The power of the Senate to summon and to question does not just apply to governors but anybody else in the country and is aimed at the best interest of the public."
Murkomen argued that the law mandates the Senate to protect members of the public and the interests of the counties through lawmaking.
The law, he noted, assigns the roles of determining the allocation of revenue to counties and oversight of State officials including the president and his deputy.
County assemblies forum chairperson Johnson Osol echoed the majority leader's position stating that it was in order for Senate to question governors.
"Their role is to represent their counties by drawing resources to them and passing laws that serve their needs," Osol stated.
Mr Osol, however, argued that the Senate would not be within its mandate by reviewing county expenditure. He recommended that they stick to national transfers.
Speaker Kenneth Lusaka weighed in on the matter stating: "the first role of the House is to represent counties and protect their interests."
[caption caption="File image of Senator Murkomen with President Uhuru Kenyatta"]
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