The High Court has stopped Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, William Kabogo of Kiambu, Mwangi wa Iria of Murang’a and Jack Ranguma of Kisumu from appearing before Senate to answer audit queries.
The Council of Governors had last week moved to court to stop its four members from appearing before the senate.
The governors, through lawyer Peter Wanyama, argued that the summons to appear before the Sessional Committee on County Public Accounts Investments is an abuse of powers.
Mr Wanyama told High Court judge Weldon Korir that the summons, as well as the freeze on the release of funds from the Treasury to the four counties, would affect the running of necessary services.
“Governors are not accounting officers. The Senate has refused to let members of the County Executive Committee and Chief Officers at the Counties who are the actual accounting officers to appear before it in total disregard to the existing county financial management,” said Mr Wanyama in the court papers.
According to the Council of Governors, governors are open to accountability but want the right mechanisms followed, including the Public Finance Management Act 2012.
-nation.co.ke
