Samburu Governor Jonathan Lati Lelelit is set to file a formal complaint with police following an alleged confrontation and assault involving senators at Parliament buildings, escalating an already tense standoff between county governments and the Senate.
The incident occurred on Wednesday after the governor visited Parliament seeking an audience with Senate leadership. This followed an arrest warrant issued against him by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) over his failure to appear before the committee on multiple occasions.
According to officials from the Council of Governors (CoG), the governor’s attempt to engage Senate leadership did not materialise, prompting him to leave the premises. However, shortly after addressing journalists outside Parliament to explain his absence from the committee proceedings, the situation reportedly turned chaotic.
Governor Lelelit claimed he was confronted by a group of senators, leading to a heated exchange that escalated into an alleged physical altercation. He alleged that he was manhandled during the incident, forcing him to defend himself and call out those involved.
Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi condemned the incident, terming the alleged actions by the senators as unacceptable and a deviation from the expected standards of conduct.
“On behalf of the Council of Governors, we will remain steadfast in demanding decency and decorum. The Senate’s oversight mandate must not be abused to humiliate or insult governors,” Abdullahi said.
He confirmed that the governor intends to file a formal complaint, adding that due process should be followed to address the matter through legal channels.
The confrontation comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the Senate and county governors, largely centred around oversight responsibilities and accountability mechanisms. Governors have previously raised concerns over what they term as harassment and intimidation during Senate proceedings.
Meanwhile, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ordered the immediate arrest of Governor Lelelit after he was spotted within Parliament precincts. The Speaker directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort him to the nearest police station in line with the warrant issued earlier.
“I order the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the Samburu Governor, if he is within the premises, to the nearest police station,” Kingi directed.
The developments have further deepened the rift between the two levels of government, raising questions about the balance between oversight and respect for institutional roles.
Authorities are now expected to investigate the incident as both sides maintain their positions, with the matter likely to fuel ongoing debates on governance and accountability in the country.
