Senate Moves to Censure Three Cabinet Secretaries for Ignoring Parliamentary Oversight

Three Cabinet Secretaries in President William Ruto’s administration are facing mounting pressure from the Kenyan Senate for their repeated failure to appear before parliamentary committees and address critical inquiries related to their respective ministries. 

The ministers, including National Treasury CS John Mbadi, Trade and Industrialisation CS Lee Kinyanjui, and Lands and Housing CS Alice Wahome, have been accused of undermining parliamentary oversight and exhibiting contempt for the legislative process, prompting calls for disciplinary action. The controversy centres on the ministers' consistent failure to honour invitations and summonses from various Senate committees, an issue that senators view as a blatant disregard for the authority of the legislative branch. 

National Treasury CS John Mbadi has emerged as a focal point of criticism, having repeatedly skipped crucial sittings and provided late notifications of his absence, often mere minutes before scheduled sessions. The most recent incident occurred earlier this month when CS Mbadi failed to appear before the Senate Finance and Budget Committee, opting instead to attend a political rally in Migori, Homa Bay County, alongside President Ruto. 

Mbadi informed the Senate of his absence only half an hour before the scheduled meeting, a move that senators perceived as a deliberate affront to parliamentary procedure, effectively preventing the House from addressing critical financial matters. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi expresses profound frustration over the repeated instances of ministerial absenteeism, urging legislators to invoke Standing Order 51(d), which allows the Senate to initiate a censure motion against cabinet secretaries who fail to respond to Senate inquiries. 

Kingi emphasises that such actions were imperative to assert the authority of the legislative branch and ensure that ministers treat Parliament with the seriousness and respect it deserves.

"This House speaks for and on behalf of the people," Kingi said. "Time has come for you to invoke the provisions of the Standing Order and move a censure motion against these errant ministers."

Speaker Kingi's remarks reflect a growing sense of frustration among senators, who argue that the repeated absences of ministers undermine Parliament’s role in governance and weaken essential accountability mechanisms. Lands and Housing CS Alice Wahome has also come under intense scrutiny for her repeated failure to appear before the Senate Lands Committee. 

Chaired by Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki, the committee has summoned Wahome seven times to address critical issues related to land rights, pollution, and the eviction of squatters. Despite these repeated attempts to engage with the minister, Wahome has neither responded nor attended the scheduled sessions, leaving legislators deeply frustrated. 

Senator Faki emphasises the urgency of the issues, saying, "Kenyans have many problems affecting them, especially on matters of land. Her failure to attend the meeting is affecting many people."

Other senators echo this sentiment, condemning Wahome’s failure to respond as a sign of negligence. Wahome has since offered to appear before the committee between May 12 and May 15 in an effort to mend relations, but lawmakers remain sceptical of her commitment. Trade and Industrialisation CS Lee Kinyanjui has also faced scrutiny from the Senate after failing to attend hearings conducted by the Senate Trade Committee, chaired by Kwale Senator Issa Juma. 

Kinyanjui cites prior engagements as the reason for his absence, but senators were unimpressed by his explanation, asserting that he should have prioritised his parliamentary obligations. In his defence, Kinyanjui apologised and assured legislators that such an incident would not recur. "I apologise for the situation, and I promise it will not happen again in the future," he said, acknowledging that his transition into the docket had been overwhelming. 

Nevertheless, senators have taken a firm stance on the matter, warning that repeated absences will not be tolerated. Senators from across party lines have united in their call to discipline the defiant ministers, emphasising that Cabinet Secretaries must respect parliamentary oversight. Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua accuses Mbadi of openly disregarding the Senate, describing his behaviour as impunity.

"The minister did the same thing to us on Tuesday in the Finance and Budget Committee," he said. "He was clever by half, claiming that he was attending a Cabinet meeting, yet he was in a rally in Migori."

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna echoes these sentiments, asserting that ministers must communicate their availability in a timely manner rather than using last-minute excuses to avoid hearings. "If a minister decides to write a day to the meeting, then that is absolute contempt, and they must be called out," he said, adding that Mbadi’s prioritisation of political engagements over parliamentary responsibilities is unacceptable.

To strengthen accountability, Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo proposes amending Standing Orders to impose penalties on ministers who fail to notify Parliament of their absences in advance.