The Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations has resolved to seek the arrest of Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika after accusing her of repeatedly failing to appear before the committee during an ongoing inquiry into the alleged disappearance of fishermen at Lake Nakuru National Park.
The decision was reached during a committee meeting chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, who said the governor had ignored several invitations and an official summons issued by the Senate.
“Governor Kihika has failed to honour all requests made by the committee and has not appeared before us despite being a key stakeholder in this matter,” Sen. Dullo stated.
“The committee has therefore resolved to invoke the necessary measures to compel her attendance.”
The governor is expected to provide submissions regarding a petition filed over the alleged forced disappearances of young fishermen around Lake Nakuru National Park. Senators argued that her absence had hindered efforts to establish the facts surrounding the claims raised by petitioners.
In a separate development, the committee ordered a fresh sampling and testing exercise of fish from Lake Nakuru after petitioners rejected findings presented by the Kenya Fisheries Service.
Petitioners claimed the initial exercise was conducted without the involvement of all stakeholders, contrary to directions previously issued by the Senate committee.
“To ensure transparency and public confidence in the findings, the exercise must be repeated in the presence of committee members, petitioners and all relevant stakeholders,” the committee directed.
The senators further resolved to summon officials from the Ministries responsible for Tourism and Wildlife, Agriculture and Interior to respond to issues raised in the petition before the committee prepares its final report.
Meanwhile, the committee later held discussions with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi over concerns surrounding the degazettement of Capitol Hill Police Station land.
Defending the process, Mudavadi told senators that all legal procedures had been followed and that the transfer was guided by Cabinet approvals.
“The degazettement and subdivision of the land were undertaken through due process and in accordance with Cabinet decisions,” Mudavadi said.
According to submissions presented before the committee, portions of the land were allocated to several institutions, including the African Trade Insurance Agency, Financial Sector Regulators and St John Ambulance.
Mudavadi explained that the African Trade Insurance Agency intends to establish its regional headquarters on the site, while the Financial Sector Regulators plan to develop a shared headquarters as approved by Cabinet.
“The allocations are intended to support strategic national and regional institutions while implementing decisions previously approved by government,” he added.
The committee said it will continue reviewing submissions from all parties before making its recommendations on both matters.
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