West Pokot Governor Kachapin blasts Senate committee as feud escalates
By Emmanuel Rono, April 1, 2026West Pokot Governor Kachapin has labelled the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee as the most corrupt body and called for immediate intervention to resolve an ongoing impasse.
Speaking during a public gathering during the launch of the 2026 maize seed distribution programme at Chelang’a Gardens in Makutano on March 31, 2026, Kachapin accused the committee of unfairly targeting county officials and fostering a hostile environment during accountability sessions.
“And why have we said the county public accounts committee has a problem? You can’t pretend to be solving a problem when you are a problem yourself. That is one of the most corrupt committees,” Kachapin said.
The governor directed his advice toward the Senate Speaker, noting that because the Speaker is a former governor who understands county operations, he should recognise the validity of the Council of Governors’ (CoG) concerns.
CoG respect on Senate
He said that the speaker should understand that when the governors say they have a problem with the committee, they mean it.
“The Senate speaker has been a governor before. He knows what happens in counties. The county government council of governors requested a meeting because there’s a challenge with that committee. So let me advise the Senate; when the council of governors says there are issues, there are issues,” Kachapin said.
Kachapin said the CoG maintains respect for the Senate as an institution and has agreed to attend all other oversight committees.
He added that they have singled out the County Public Accounts Committee as having deep-seated issues.
Governors boycotting Senate summons
The county chiefs had boycotted attending the Senate summons, prompting bickering from the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), which challenged the Council of Governors (CoG) to present evidence to the investigative agencies and the August House.
The CoG got a blow when Senate Speaker Amason Kingi described the accusations as inappropriate and inconducive to intergovernmental cooperation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Kingi said the Senate had noted with concern a press statement from CoG regarding the operations of two Senate oversight committees, the CPAC and the County Public Investments Committee (CPIC).
“The Senate further notes, with grave concern, the purported demand by the CoG for the reconstitution of CPAC, based on claims of political witch-hunts, harassment, extortion, and intimidation allegedly involving four unnamed members of the committee,” Kingi said.
“Article 96(3) provides that the Senate determines the allocation of national revenue among counties and exercises oversight over its use. Article 96(1) confirms that the Senate represents the counties and serves to protect their interests,” Kingi noted.