Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai was on Friday, August 28, directed to arrest Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria by a Senate committee.
The Senate County Public Accounts and Investments Committee found that the county head had snubbed three summons to appear to respond to audit queries.
The committee chair Sam Ongeri also fined the governor Ksh500,000 for failing to appear in Parliament.
"In view that the governor came under summons last year, and this year he has failed to honour summons, I order that this committee summons under police escort Governor Mwangi wa Iria to be produced by the IG physically to this committee room on September 10, 2020,” Ongeri stated.
The governor had failed to appear on two previous occasions, attributing one of the absences to the closure of county offices after reported cases of Covid-19.
The committee chair stated that the reasons were suspect and were preventing the governor from being held accountable.
Article 125 of the Constitution gives Parliament the power to summon anyone to appear before it for purposes of providing information
The Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act similarly grants the committees of both Houses of Parliament the power to order the arrest of any witness, who severally snubs invites and summons.
“Where a summoned witness does not appear or appears but fails to satisfy the relevant House of Parliament or committee, the relevant House or committee may order the arrest of a person who fails to honour summons,” the Act states.
In the 11th Parliament, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Kwale's Salim Mvurya failed to appear before the accounting committee. They were slapped with Ksh 500,000 and Ksh 200,000 fines respectively.
Earlier in August, a judge nullified an arrest warrant against Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua stating that it should not be assumed that Parliament should exercise its power to summon any person in an unrestrained manner.
The judge further ruled that the governor was condemned, unheard by the Senate committee.
