Migori Senator Oketch insists Senate’s authority cannot be diluted by politics
By Cy Muganda, August 16, 2025Migori Senator Eddy Oketch Gicheru has defended the Senate’s constitutional mandate to oversee county governments, warning that its authority cannot be undermined by politics or administrative preferences.
In a statement released on its Facebook account on Saturday, August 16, 2025, Parliament announced that the legislator who spoke during the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County described the Senate’s oversight role as non-negotiable and anchored in law.
“Senator Eddy Oketch Gicheru (Migori) has strongly reaffirmed the Senate’s constitutional oversight role over county governments, describing it as a non-negotiable mandate,” the statement reads.
“The legislator emphasised that the Senate’s authority cannot be altered or diluted by political whims or administrative preferences,” the statement noted.
Legal precedence
The senator referenced legal precedent to support his position on the Senate’s oversight role, invoking the 2019 Supreme Court ruling on consolidated petitions 24 and 27.
“He referenced the landmark Supreme Court decision on consolidated petitions 24 and 27 of 2019, which reaffirmed the Senate’s constitutional power to oversee governors and county executives,” Parliament stated.
The senator further underscored the judiciary’s role in protecting devolution and safeguarding institutional independence.
“The role of the Senate cannot be prescribed by anyone other than the Constitution and the court of law,” Oketch stated.
Balanced approach to oversight
According to the statement, the Migori lawmaker pledged that senators would continue to champion increased allocations to counties in order to strengthen grassroots service delivery, but cautioned that additional resources must go hand in hand with accountability.
“We will fight for more money for counties, but in the same breath, we will continue to hold governors accountable to the optimal level,” he said, adding that accountability and transparency are non-negotiable pillars of effective governance.
Oketch further urged leaders not to view devolution merely as a mechanism for disbursing funds, stressing that its success depends on adherence to strict constitutional principles.
“Senator Oketch also cautioned against viewing devolution solely as a funding mechanism, stressing that its success lies in prudent management of resources, inclusive development planning, and strict adherence to constitutional principles,” Parliament concluded.