By Grace Gilo
Nairobi City Governor Johnson Sakaja has today failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Energy.
The committee is looking into the Mradi gas explosion that happened in Embakasi leading to the death of six people.
During the February 2 tragedy, over 200 people were injured.
Failure to appear before the senate attracts a fine of Ksh 500,000 as per the statutory requirement for leaders who skip senate summons.
This incident agitated Nairobi City Senator Edwin Sifuna and his Narok counterpart Ledama Ole Kina.
The lawmakers requested the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to arrest him and bring him before the Senate Committee.
“The Senate Energy Committee looking into the Mradi gas explosion in Embakasi has resolved to fine Governor Sakaja another Ksh 500,000 and requested the IG of Police to arrest and present him to the committee on 25th April 2024. He failed to appear again this morning,” read Senator Sifuna’s tweet.
“Whoever is protecting Sakaja Johnson must know he is an accomplice and must look in the mirror and let justice prevail. This guy is a thug period. National police service if you believe in following the law arrest Mr Sherehe and deliver him to the Senate,” wrote Senator Ledama Olekina.
The governor later wrote that he knew that appearing before the Senate was a constitutional requirement which he takes seriously and further stated that the senate members knew that he was out of the country.
“I have appeared severally and will continue to do so. I have no reason not to answer to respond to any questions raised on Mradi or FY 20-22 audits. Sensationalizing a rescheduling and making the Senate appear as if it acts in vain is what belittles the house. Many appearances by other invitees have been rescheduled due to travel, infirmity or prior booked official engagements,” wrote the governor in response to the accusations,” replied Sakaja to the alleged accusations.
Severally, the governor has failed to appear before the senate committee and was Monday censored by the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) for repeatedly ignoring summons from the house.
CPAIC summoned Governor Sakaja on April 8 to explain how Ksh.76 billion was used in four subsequent Financial Years from 2019 to 2023 which he failed to comply with.
The CPAIC also directed the Inspector General to compel the governor to appear before the committee within 14 days.