Cherargei pressures governors to clarify their role in national board appointments
By Emmanuel Rono, March 18, 2026Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has called for greater transparency and accountability in the role played by the Council of Governors (CoG) in nominating representatives to national boards, task forces, and committees.
According to a statement by the Parliament of Kenya on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Cherargei said he requested a statement from the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, seeking clarity on the council’s mandate and processes in making such appointments.
“CoG’s mandate, nomination criteria, and mechanisms should be clear to ensure accountability of appointed county representatives nationally,” Cherargei said.
During the Tuesday, March 17, 2026, session, Cherargei expressed concern that, despite the CoG’s primary role of safeguarding county interests, there remains limited public information on how nominees are selected and appointed.
Comprehensive board report
Cherargei, who is at the center of the conflict between senators and governors, tasked the committee to provide the House with a comprehensive report detailing the specific boards on which the council holds representation and the total number of appointments made to date.
He emphasised that the committee must investigate the criteria and procedures applied in these nominations, particularly in alignment with Mwongozo and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission guidelines, to ensure that no single county or region disproportionately benefits from these opportunities.
According to the report, Cherargei wants the committee to table a comprehensive report outlining all national boards and committees where the council has representation, including the total number of appointments made so far.
“The Nandi Senator further demanded a breakdown of the safeguards in place to prevent conflict of interest, double remuneration, or abuse of allowances, while questioning if these appointments are subjected to independent audits or parliamentary oversight,” the parliamentary report stated.
Misuse of public funds
The lawmaker also called for disclosure of safeguards put in place to prevent conflicts of interest, double remuneration and misuse of public funds through allowances.
He questioned whether the appointments are subject to independent audits or parliamentary oversight.
Cherargei stated that there must be established mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability, and equity across all the counties.
“He remained firm that there must be established mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable representation across all 47 counties, and that nominees must demonstrate their effectiveness in strengthening devolution within key sectors such as health, agriculture, and infrastructure,” the Parliamentary report added.