Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has been re-invited to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) to explain why the National Police Service (NPS) has failed to arrest Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and present him before the committee.
Kanja had been scheduled to appear before the committee on Monday, September 7, 2026, to explain the circumstances surrounding the police failure to arrest the governor, who has repeatedly failed to honour the committee’s invitations and summonses.
However, the Inspector General did not appear before the committee. Instead, he sent a letter explaining that he was scheduled to travel to China on an official visit on the same day.
Kanja asked the committee to reschedule the sitting to another date after his return from China.
In the letter, Kanja said he had constituted a special team to arrest Governor Guyo and present him before the committee.
“Apparently, the Governor got wind of it and successfully evaded our dragnet,” Kanja said.
However, the explanation did not convince members of the committee, who accused the police chief of trivialising a matter of national importance.
Committee Chairperson Senator Moses Kajwang’ criticised the language used in Kanja’s letter.
“The wording in the letter is not useful at all,” Kajwang’ said, describing the language as casual.
He said the explanation created the impression that the National Police Service was unable to enforce Parliament’s directives.
“It is unfortunate that the impression he creates in the letter is that the NPS is clueless, ineffective and powerless,” Kajwang’ said.
The chairperson questioned how police could fail to arrest a well-known public figure such as Governor Guyo.
“The failure by the police to arrest such a known public figure is sending the wrong signal to the public,” he said.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo accused Kanja of showing contempt for Parliament and urged the committee to escalate the matter.
Dullo said the Inspector General had repeatedly used different reasons to avoid appearing before the Senate.
She further claimed that Governor Guyo was continuing with political activities in Isiolo while in the company of police officers despite failing to honour the committee’s summonses.
“It is not enough for the IG to explain to the Committee his efforts,” Dullo said.
“This Committee should move the House to compel the IG to appear before the Committee of the Whole,” she added.
Dullo warned that the Senate risked losing the confidence of residents of Isiolo if it failed to act and ensure that police comply with its directives.
The proposal to summon Kanja before the committee received support from Senator Samson Cherarkey, the committee’s Vice Chairperson.
“We are being mob-lynched by the public on matters of accountability. People think we are not serious,” Cherarkey said.
“Let’s issue the summons because this is contempt. He has defied the invitation and we should make him appreciate the importance of respecting constitutional institutions,” he added.
However, Senator Okong’o Omogeni urged the committee to exercise caution and opposed the immediate issuance of summons against the Inspector General.
“If we can confirm that his trip to China is legitimate, the best solution would be to give him another date to appear,” Omogeni said.
He warned that summoning the police chief could create unnecessary tension between the Senate and the National Police Service.
“We have a good working relationship with the IG. Taking the route of issuing summons will take the focus away from the real issue, which is the Governors who are running away from accountability,” he said.
Senator Enock Wambua, however, supported calls to escalate the matter and have Kanja appear before the Committee of the Whole.
In his ruling, Kajwang’ acknowledged the concerns raised by members and directed that the issues surrounding the Isiolo County Government be separated from those involving the Inspector General of Police.
“We reiterate that the IG must appear before this committee and explain why he has failed to arrest the Governor,” Kajwang’ said.
The committee also resolved to prepare a special report on the challenges facing Isiolo County, particularly issues relating to its budget and financial accountability.
The report is expected to be prepared and tabled before the Senate by October.
Among the recommendations expected in the report is a forensic audit of the county’s finances to establish how public funds have been managed.
The committee’s latest action comes amid continued efforts by senators to hold the Isiolo County Government accountable over financial and budgetary matters.
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