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The Senate Energy Committee has issued a directive to Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome, instructing him to apprehend Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja due to his repeated failure to appear before the committee as requested.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, a member of the committee, highlighted Sakaja’s absence from multiple summons related to the Embakasi gas explosion investigation, prompting the committee to take action.
“The Senate Energy Committee, investigating the Embakasi gas explosion, has decided to impose an additional fine of Ksh 500,000 on Governor Sakaja and has asked the IG of Police to arrest and present him before the committee on April 25, 2024,” stated Sifuna on X (formerly Twitter).
Governor Sakaja has now missed three consecutive appearances before the committee. On March 28, Energy Committee Chair Senator Wahome Wamatinga imposed a KSh500,000 fine on Sakaja for his failure to attend. Instead, Sakaja hosted President William Ruto and Deputy Rigathi Gachagua at a religious event in Makadara, Nairobi County.
Senator Ledama Olekina of Narok, also a committee member, criticized Sakaja’s behavior as ‘arrogant’ and emphasized the importance of respecting Parliament’s summons.
Sakaja’s presence is crucial for shedding light on the February 2 gas explosion, which claimed the lives of seven individuals. The Senate is seeking clarification on the authorization process for establishing an LPG facility within a residential area.
This is not the first time Sakaja has faced consequences for ignoring parliamentary summons. He was fined for a similar offense in November the previous year, relating to his failure to appear before the Senate Roads and Housing Committee to address queries regarding regeneration projects in Nairobi.
Sakaja’s defiance of parliamentary summons echoes similar behavior by other county governors facing inquiries on various matters.
