The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has summoned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja over what it termed contempt of Parliament.
The summons followed IG Kanja’s failure to arrest and present Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit, who is wanted by the committee over contempt proceedings.
Speaking on Monday, January 26, CPAC chairperson Moses Kajwang’ accused the police chief of disregarding lawful directives issued by the Senate and ordered him to appear before the committee within seven days.
Senate Committee Summons IG Douglas Kanja Over Alleged Contempt of Parliament. Photo: Courtesy.
Kajwang’ said the police must comply with parliamentary resolutions, warning that the committee would not tolerate any actions that undermine Parliament’s authority or hinder its oversight role.
Governor Lati Lelelit has repeatedly failed to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee to account for billions of shillings allocated to Samburu County in the 2023/24 financial year.
On December 4, 2025, CPAC fined the governor Ksh500,000 and ordered him to appear before the committee, but he again ignored the summons.
The committee subsequently directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to arrest and present the governor before CPAC on December 18, 2025.
In a letter dated December 18, IG Kanja informed the committee that police were unable to trace the governor and therefore could not execute the arrest.
CPAC then instructed him to investigate the governor’s whereabouts and produce him before the committee on January 26, 2026.
However, the police chief neither responded to the directive nor presented the governor as ordered.
The development echoes previous confrontations between Parliament and the police leadership.
In September 2025, the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation and Oversight of the Constitution summoned IG Kanja to address ongoing disputes between the National Police Service and the National Police Service Commission.
At the time, CIOC chairperson Caroli Omondi faulted Kanja for repeatedly failing to honour committee invitations, warning that such conduct undermined Parliament’s constitutional oversight role.
He also expressed concern that police reforms have stalled nearly 15 years after the promulgation of the Constitution, insisting that oversight by Parliament is mandatory, not optional.
