Nairobi — A section of Senators have called on national security agencies to crack the whip on what they term "village militias" sustained by Governors keen to evade accountability.
In a response following a string of attacks aimed at Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, the Senators urged investigative agencies to expedite investigations and bring culpable individuals to book.
The Senators, who included Senate Deputy Minority Whip Edwin Sifuna, decried increasing attacks on their colleagues ostensibly to sabotage the oversight roles in counties.
Senators demanded the Director of Criminal Investigation(DCI), Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to investigate the incident attack on Omtatah's rural home that left one person injured.
Just weeks before the raid at his rural home, Omtatah suffered an attack on March 22 when unknown assailants accosted him while leaving Busia Law Courts.
"The relevant agencies should conduct a thorough investigation into all these happenings to assure the Senate and the public that his life is not in danger and not in any way related to his work as an activist or Senator," Sifuna said.
He accused a section of county bosses of sponsoring attacks aimed at intimidating Senators questioning the utilization of county funds.
"Some of us are facing challenges in our counties. We are under attack from our Governors who are sending goons to us during our oversight tours and maligning our names on social media," Sifuna remarked.
Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma pointed an accusing finger at the Busia County Administration led by Governor Paul Otuoma questioning why the attack happened days after Senator Omtatah dragged the county to court.
Omtatah had filed a petition in the High Court against the Busia Governor accusing him of undermining his oversight role.
In the petition, the senator said the Governor had failed to surrender documents needed for an independent audit despite two letters requesting information.
Mumma urged the youth to resist attempts to unleash violence at the behest of politicians.
We must respect democracy which allows citizens to query the Executive," Mumma said.
"As Senators, we will continue doing our job and mandate as required by the public," she emphasized.
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Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei echoed his colleagues accusing county chiefs of curtailing the legislators from demanding answers on devolved funds.
"In the recent past, there has been a well-calculated move to intimidate and blackmail governors from doing their oversight job. The constitution didn't envisage this and we condemn this and call relevant agencies to move with speed on the matter," Cherargei stated.
Senator Cherargei claimed Governors were misusing devolved funds to organize militia who harass Senators when they poke holes in the administration of counties.
"Some of us have to change cars when we travel, change houses till our spouses are accusing us of having mpango kando (extramarital affairs) yet we don't," he claimed.
"We are very holy people. We have all this because of our security," Cherargei quipped.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo termed the attack on Senator Omtatah unacceptable appealing to the security agencies to beef up security for a section of Senators whose lives are in danger following threats and attacks from governors.
"We want to urge our county security should be alert in regards to what is happening to senators in regards to their oversight role. Security agencies should take action on Governors mobilizing goons," she stated.
