Robert Alai blasts senators, calls governors’ standoff jungle law
By Aloys Michael, April 2, 2026Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has criticised the ongoing standoff between the Senate and governors, describing the escalating tensions as the law of the jungle.
Alai’s comments come amid a heated confrontation between the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Senate over warrants of arrest issued against county chiefs who failed to appear before the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC).
“When senators decide to mishandle governors, it becomes the law of the jungle. If a governor fails to appear before the Senate, they can summon them and issue a warrant of arrest, but that is as far as they can go. You can’t go beyond that and act like bouncers,” Alai said during an interview on a local TV station on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
The MCA’s remarks follow a dramatic police operation at City Hall on Monday evening, March 30, 2026, which attempted to apprehend Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja but failed.
The attempted arrest, carried out by the office of the Inspector General of Police, has triggered a strong backlash from governors, who insist the matter is collective rather than personal.
CoG Chair Ahmed Abdullahi condemned the operation, calling it an unwarranted use of force and reiterating the council’s collective decision not to engage with the Senate CPAC.
“The council of governors notes with utmost concern the actions by the office of the Inspector General of Police in what appears to be an unwarranted exercise of force in the attempt to arrest Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
“This follows his failure to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) pursuant to a resolution made collectively by the council over the conduct of specific senators in the captioned committee,” Abdullahi said.
The council accuses four unnamed committee members of “continuous extortion, unnecessary harassment, and intimidation”, accusations that remain unverified. Abdullahi emphasised that the issue is not about individual governors but a unified stand by all counties.
According to Abdullahi, 29 governors were summoned to appear before CPAC, but only two attended, and even they declined substantive engagement in line with the council’s directive.
Alai echoed Abdullahi’s stance, asserting that the Senate’s approach undermines constitutional limits.
“The Senate can issue summons and warrants, but it cannot overstep and treat governors like ordinary citizens in a brawl. That’s why this escalated into a standoff—it’s a matter of principle and law,” the Kileleshwa MCA said.
The standoff has sparked debates over the balance of power between Kenya’s Senate and county governments, with political analysts warning of a deepening institutional rift if the conflict remains unresolved.
“This is a test of Kenya’s devolved governance framework. The Senate must exercise oversight without encroaching on the autonomy of elected governors. Any abuse of authority could set a dangerous precedent,” Alai added.
As tensions rise, CoG is demanding the immediate withdrawal of warrants of arrest and is calling for dialogue to resolve differences with the Senate. The situation remains fluid, with both sides yet to signal readiness for compromise.