Africa-Press – Kenya. Tension erupted at the Parliament buildings on Wednesday afternoon after Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ordered the immediate arrest and escort of Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit to the Parliament Police Station.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded after Governor Lelelit was spotted within the Parliament buildings despite an active warrant of arrest against him.
The warrant stemmed from his repeated failure to appear before the Senate’s watchdog committee, which had summoned him several times to answer audit queries.
At around 3:25pm, Speaker Kingi directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to act swiftly and apprehend the alleged defiant governor after confirming the governor’s presence.
“In the meantime, I order the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Governor Samburu if he is still within the premises of Parliament to the nearest police station,” said Kingi.
Moments before the directive was issued, the Senate Majority Leader, Aaron Cheruiyot, rose on the floor of the House and urged the Speaker to take immediate action.
“This is a serious matter which we require your urgent attention on, Mr Speaker. And because I know these proceedings are being followed online, issue directives before the governor disappears and let him be taken to the police station here in Parliament,” Cheruiyot stated.
The Kericho Senator’s sentiments were quickly backed by his Kitui counterpart, Enoch Wambua, who accused the governors of openly defying the Senate summons.
He, in particular, took a swipe at Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for what he described as open disobedience and resistance to the summons and even arrest.
“These games that are being played with parliament must be brought to an end. The only person that can bring that game to an end is you, the Speaker of the Senate of Kenya,” said Wambua.
Reports indicate that Governor Lelelit was addressing the press outside the Parliament buildings when the Senate Speaker ordered his immediate arrest.
Minutes before addressing the press, the Samburu Governor had just arrived to meet the Senate leadership in a bid to avert possible arrest for snubbing the summons.
The Senate watchdog committee, tasked with oversight of county governments, had reported growing frustration with the absence of several governors, terming it a direct insult to the Senate’s authority.
Meanwhile, the latest update comes hardly a day after a contingent of police officers camped outside Governor Sakaja’s office at City Hall to arrest him for consistently missing the Senate summons.
