Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has been asked to appear in person before a Senate committee after ignoring summons seven times.

The Senate Lands Committee, chaired by Mombasa lawmaker Mohammed Faki, had summoned the Cabinet Secretary to respond to seven petitions involving issues of land, pollution and eviction of squatters across the country.

The senators now want Wahome to appear in person next week to explain why she has been treating them with contempt and derailing the work of the committee.

Wahome failed to heed the summons, saying that she was on official duty in the US.

Prior arrangements

Asked why the committee failed to summon the Cabinet Secretary in person after failing to appear three times, Faki exonerated himself, saying that he is barely three months in the Lands committee.

“The CS explained that by the time she was receiving the summons, she already had prior arrangements to go to the US World Bank Land Conference. She wrote a letter which was signed on May 2, 2025 and delivered May 5,” said Faki.

He went on: “The explanation is plausible. It is acceptable because our summons was served on April 29, it was received in her office on the same day and on April 30, she wrote to the clerk saying that she cannot attend because she is going to Washington for the conference.”

Wahome has requested to appear before the committee any day between May 12 and May 15.

“We have accepted the explanation as to why she did not attend, but as to why she did not attend the previous meetings, she will have to explain that when she comes,” said Faki.

Faki said requests were being made to her office, but she was not responding or honouring them. After his committee found out that she was not honouring the invites, they decided to summon her.

“A summon is higher than an invite. So we have summoned her and if she did give an explanation, we would have fined her.”

James Murango (Kirinyaga) said the new memebrs do not know the explanation she gave to the previous committee.

He went on: “Kenyans have many problems affecting them, especially on matters of land. Her failure to attend the meeting is affecting many people. If you give an old man with no teeth a sugar cane to chew, it is no longer a gift but contempt. We are not happy that she has failed to attend.”