MPs summon IG Kanja over repeated snub of Parliament invites
By Cy Muganda, September 2, 2025The National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation and Oversight of the Constitution (CIOC) has resolved to summon Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, accusing him of repeatedly ignoring parliamentary invitations.
In a statement posted on Parliament’s Facebook page on September 2, 2025, the committee, chaired by Caroli Omondi, said Kanja’s conduct undermines the authority of Parliament and weakens constitutional oversight.
“The lawmakers say this undermines Parliament’s constitutional mandate,” the statement read.
Caroli Omondi, flanked by members at Bunge Tower, expressed frustration with Kanja, saying his recent actions risk perpetuating a culture of defiance to legislative scrutiny that dates back to his predecessors.
“This will no longer be business as usual,” Omondi cautioned.
“It’s been 15 years since the promulgation of the Constitution, and police reforms still lag behind. Oversight is not optional,” he added.
Postponement request
The lawmakers disclosed that Kanja had written to the Speaker of the National Assembly seeking a deferment of the meeting for 21 days.
He had cited the recent appointment of a new chairperson for the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), saying both offices needed time to consult and seek an amicable resolution.
But MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of his response.
“The late communication by the IG is in itself an insult to the Committee. It shows that as a Committee, we are not taken seriously,” Umulkher Harun said.
Meeting conditions
The IG had also requested that any eventual meeting be held in camera due to what he termed the “sensitive nature of the matter.”
However, the committee rejected both the full postponement period and the request for a closed-door session, instead directing Kanja to appear on September 16, 2025.
“We do not have the luxury of time. This matter needs to be dealt with once and for all,” committee member Geoffrey Mulanya stated.
The MPs also insisted that the session would remain open to the public, stressing that transparency is essential.
“This Committee operates under the principles of transparency and public accountability. We will not allow critical matters of national interest to be shrouded in secrecy,” Caroli Omondi maintained.
The committee is scheduled to meet the IG and the National Police Service Commission on September 16 to address issues, including the payroll for police officers, among other matters.