Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has launched a direct warning at Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa over what he terms as county mismanagement.

This comes as Barasa is named as one of the most notorious leaders in snubbing Senate summons. Taking to X, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Khalwale has insisted that accountability is unavoidable as the 2027 elections approach.

“Gov @BarasaFernandes, you can run but ultimately you will have absolutely nowhere to hide. 2027 is knocking. Umetuibia, umetuibia sana!” Khalwale wrote.

Khalwale, who has long criticised Barasa’s handling of Kakamega County and declared his intention to challenge him for the governorship next year, linked the broader Senate-governors standoff to local accountability issues.

The tension comes after the Council of Governors (CoG) decided during their retreat in Kilifi on February 9, to suspend appearances before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC).

“The Council of Governors notes with great concern the continuous and escalating extortion, political witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and humiliation of Excellency governors by certain Senators when they appear before the Public Accounts Committee of the Senate,” CoG chair and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said.

Governors agreed to appear only once per audit cycle before the Senate Public Investments Committee for orderly oversight, citing concerns over aggressive questioning by some senators.

Senators pushed back immediately. Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka dismissed the governors’ boycott in a TV interview and challenged them to report any extortion to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) or Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) rather than avoid committees.

“If you are being extorted, why don’t you go to the DCI or the EACC and report? Why come to television to announce that you will not appear? You have the DCI and the EACC. Just go there and say, ‘Senator so-and-so has taken money from me,’” he said.

Senators defend audit authority

Onyonka defended Senate scrutiny as constitutional and essential, citing Auditor General reports on unaccounted funds. He gave examples including Ksh45 million spent on non-existent avocado seedlings and Ksh47 million in questionable expenditure in another county.

“When you have spent KSh45 million to buy avocado seedlings, and they do not exist, what questions do you want the committee to ask you?” he asked.

Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei backed Onyonka’s stance. He stressed that Senate committees have a clear mandate to enforce accountability.

“All committees of the Senate have the constitutional mandate to do what they are doing, and therefore, as a governor, you have been elected to serve a public office for a term of five years, renewable subject to your performance, and therefore, you must be subjected to what the law requires of you to do. Accountability,” he said.

Sigei rejected claims of harassment, noting that hearings are public and governors get time to respond to audit queries. He added that skipping sessions prevents governors from clearing their names.

Several governors have ignored summons, prompting threats of sanctions from Senate committees. Senators insist that boycotts undermine constitutional oversight and delay review of county audits.