Francis Wambugu Irungu The Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations has resolved to have Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihika arrested and compelled to appear before it, after she repeatedly ignored invitations and a formal summons linked to an ongoing parliamentary inquiry.
The resolution was passed during a sitting held on Monday, chaired by Committee Chairperson Senator Fatuma Dullo of Isiolo, who noted that the Governor had failed to honour all requests to appear before the Committee.
Governor Kihika is among key stakeholders required to submit evidence in the Committee’s consideration of a petition concerning the alleged forced disappearances of young fishermen at Lake Nakuru National Park.
In a separate resolution, the Committee ordered fresh sampling and testing of fish from Lake Nakuru after petitioners rejected a report tabled by Kenya Fisheries Service, arguing that the exercise had been conducted unilaterally by Kenya Fisheries Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), contrary to earlier Committee directives requiring the involvement of all stakeholders. The Committee directed that the exercise be repeated in the presence of members, petitioners and relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency and credibility of the findings.
The Committee further resolved to invite officials from the Ministries of Tourism and Wildlife, Agriculture, and Interior to address key issues arising from the petition before a comprehensive report is prepared.
Capitol Hill Police Station Degazettement Defended
In a separate sitting, the Committee met Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to deliberate on concerns surrounding the degazettement of Capitol Hill Police Station.
PCS Mudavadi maintained that due process had been followed, stating that the degazettement and transfer of the land was guided by a Cabinet approval on subdivision. Beneficiaries of the subdivided land include the African Trade Insurance Agency, allocated two acres to establish its continental headquarters; Financial Sector Regulators, allocated two acres for a consolidated headquarters in line with a 2023 Cabinet approval; and St John Ambulance, which received one acre pursuant to a 2021 Cabinet decision.
The sitting was attended by Senators Lelegwe Ltumbesi (Samburu), Abdul Haji (Garissa), Okong’o Mogeni (Nyamira), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), and Joseph Githuku (Lamu), with Senator Wakili Hillary Sigei (Bomet) attending as a friend of the Committee.
