By FLEVIAN GEOFFREY: Political temperatures have risen in Samburu county following a the confrontation at the Senate, sparking both traditional cleansing rituals and mass street protests in support of Governor Lati Lelelit.
This has been occasioned by chaotic scene at the Senate buildings earlier this week, where senators were filmed attempting to forcibly escort Governor Lelelit to appear before the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC).
The Governor is among 29 county chiefs currently under scruitiny over unresolved audit queries.
Samburu elders convened a traditional cleansing ceremony for the Governor.
Footage circulating on social media shows the elders performing rites and applying “protective charms,” a cultural practice intended to shield the leader from perceived administrative and political “witch-hunts”, signaling that the elders view the Senate’s actions not as legal oversight, but as an affront to the dignity of their leadership.
Hundreds of residents in Samburu East launched a series of demonstrations yesterday, condemning the “manhandling” of their Governor.
Protesters, chanting slogans against the Senate, argued that the lawmakers had overstepped their constitutional boundaries.
“Hi ni watu ya siasa, hakuna senata amekubaliwa kushika mtu,” (This is politics; no senator is authorized to arrest anyone), one protester shouted, echoing the crowd’s sentiment that the power of arrest lies solely with the police, not legislators.
The residents have threatened to take their grievances directly to the doorsteps of the Senate in Nairobi if the “rogue” behavior of the committees continues.
The drama began on Wednesday following an alleged “hide-and-seek” game between the Governor and the CPAC.
While Lelelit eventually presented himself at the Senate, the situation devolved into chaos when senators, acting on orders from Speaker Amason Kingi, attempted to have the Sergeant-at-Arms take him into custody.
As the Governor addressed the media, senators intervened to force him into the committee room.
In the ensuing scuffle, Lelelit managed to evade the officials and left the premises in his vehicle.
The Council of Governors (CoG), led by Wajir Governor recently accused the CPAC of “extortionist” tendencies and has called for the removal of certain senators from the oversight committee.
In a retaliatory move, senators have taken a hardline stance, vowing to block a bill that would allocate additional funds to counties until all 29 flagged governors are successfully grilled.
As the stalemate continues, the line between constitutional oversight and political theater remains blurred, leaving the residents of Samburu caught in the middle of a fierce power struggle between the devolved units and the upper house.
