Joho skips Senate session for budget cycle exercise
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, February 20, 2026The Senate Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining barred the Mining Principal Secretary from making submissions after Ali Hassan Joho failed to attend a crucial budget meeting without offering a formal explanation.
In a statement shared on its official Facebook page on Thursday, February 19, 2026, the committee expressed disappointment over the absence of the Mining Cabinet Secretary during deliberations on the 2026 Budget Policy Statement. Senators noted that the CS’s failure to appear contravened the Senate Standing Orders, prompting the committee to block the Ministry of Mining delegation from presenting its policy submissions.
“The State Department for Mining was the last to appear; they did not make their presentation before the Committee. PS Harry Kimtai, who appeared without CS in the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hon. Ali Hassan Joho, was only allowed to table the policy without explanation.
“Committee Chairperson Hon. Musyoka, in consultation with other members, said the PS couldn’t present the policy without the CS, who did not give any formal explanation on why he skipped the very important exercises of the budget cycle. The decision was in accordance with Article 232 of the Standing Orders,” the Parliament statement read in part..
The committee was receiving the 2026 Budget Policy Statements from three State Departments under its mandate, with submissions from the State Department for Environment and Climate Change and the State Department for Forestry. Deborah Barasa, who appeared before the committee to explain and defend their policy proposals, represented the State Department for Forestry.
Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, who attended in the absence of CS Joho, was only permitted to table the policy documents without providing explanations or responding to questions from committee members.
Committee Chairperson Daniel Maanzo Musyoka, in consultation with other members, ruled that the PS could not present the policy in the absence of the Cabinet Secretary, who had not provided a formal explanation for skipping the session.
Senate defends its decision
The committee stated that its decision was in line with Article 232 of the Senate Standing Orders governing accountability during the budget cycle process.
Committee Chairperson Daniel Maanzo Musyoka, in consultation with other members, ruled that the PS could not substantively present the policy in the absence of the Cabinet Secretary. The Chair emphasised that Cabinet Secretaries are constitutionally accountable to Parliament and must personally defend their ministry’s budget proposals unless a formal explanation is provided.
The committee stated that its decision was in line with Article 232 of the Senate Standing Orders governing accountability and public service principles during the budget cycle process.
Importance of Budget Policy statement
Senators underscored the importance of the Budget Policy Statement, noting that it sets spending ceilings, policy priorities, and development targets for the upcoming financial year. They warned that failure by senior officials to appear before parliamentary committees undermines transparency, oversight, and the integrity of the budget-making process.
The Mining State Department is now expected to reschedule its appearance, with the committee insisting that the Cabinet Secretary must attend in person to defend the ministry’s allocations and strategic plans for the 2026 financial year.