Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has come out to defend county bosses, insisting that they are not running away from accountability in their latest feud with senators.

The first-time governor maintained that county bosses have issues with only four senators in the County Public Accounts Committee, whose conduct has raised concerns of extortion and intimidation.

During an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Barasa affirmed that the intention of the governors is not to run away from accountability but to be against political witch-hunts and extortion.

“The issues raised by governors are not about running away from accountability, because we have no problem with the 67 senators. What we have a problem with is the conduct of four senators who have been notorious for their continuous and escalating extortion, intimidation, and harassment,” Barasa stated.

Kingi dismisses CoG claims

Barasa’s remarks came hours after Senate Speaker Kingi issued a stern statement dismissing CoG’s claims and warning governors against suspending appearances before Senate committees.

In his statement, Kingi rejected CoG’s demand for reconstitution of the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) based on claims of political witch-hunts, harassment, extortion, and intimidation.

“The Senate further notes, with grave concern, the purported demand by the Council of Governors for the reconstitution of the County Public Accounts Committee, based on claims of political witch-hunts, harassment, extortion and intimidation allegedly involving four unnamed Members of the Committee,” Kingi stated.

The Speaker emphasised that the Senate’s oversight role is firmly anchored in the Constitution and called on governors to use established institutional channels rather than the media to raise concerns about Senate committee operations.

“While the Senate remains open to structured and constructive dialogue with devolution actors, recourse to public mudslinging and unsubstantiated allegations in the media, unsupported by evidence, is neither appropriate nor conducive to intergovernmental cooperation,” Kingi stated.

As the stand-off between the Senate and the Council of Governors continues, senators have insisted on their constitutional mandate to conduct oversight, while county bosses have threatened to table evidence to support their claims.