Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja faces mounting pressure from senators after failing to execute an arrest order for Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo. The police chief cited an evaded dragnet and an official trip to China, prompting sharp rebukes from parliamentary leadership.
Senate County Public Accounts Committee Re-invites Inspector General Douglas Kanja
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja was re-invited to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee to explain why an arrest directive targeting Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan remains unenforced. The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (SCPAC) has re-invited Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to appear before it to explain why he has not arrested Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and presented him before the Committee. The Inspector General had been scheduled to appear before the Committee on Monday to explain to Senators the circumstances under which the National Police Service had failed to arrest the Governor and produce him before the Committee. Senators ordered the governor’s arrest after he repeatedly failed to honour summonses to answer audit queries regarding the use of public funds. While the governor cited local security engagements for missing the proceedings, lawmakers dismissed that excuse outright. Senators ordered for his arrest after he failed to honour summonses to answer audit queries regarding the use public funds. The Governor failed to appear, citing local security engagements, an excuse strongly dismissed by the Senators. The Missing Governor and the Evaded Dragnet
Inspector General Kanja Cites Official Visit to China and Evaded Dragnet
The confrontation centres on a parliamentary directive that police authorities have struggled to complete. Kanja was originally scheduled to appear before the committee to address the enforcement breakdown, but instead sent a letter explaining his absence due to an official visit to scheduled travel to China on an official visit on the same day. Kanja had been scheduled to appear before the committee on Monday, September 7, 2026, to explain the circumstances surrounding the police failure to arrest the governor, who has repeatedly failed to honour the committee’s invitations and summonses. However, the Inspector General did not appear before the committee. Instead, he sent a letter explaining that he was scheduled to travel to China on an official visit on the same day. Kanja asked the committee to reschedule the sitting to another date after his return from China.
In his communication to the committee, the police chief maintained that law enforcement had attempted to act on the directive. In the letter, Kanja said he had constituted a special team to arrest Governor Guyo and present him before the committee. Apparently, the Governor got wind of it and successfully evaded our dragnet,
Kanja said.
That explanation did little to appease lawmakers who view the governor’s continued freedom as a direct challenge to parliamentary authority. Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo pointed out a glaring contradiction in the enforcement efforts, claiming that Governor Guyo has continued participating in local political activities while accompanied by police officers. Dullo said the Inspector General had repeatedly used different reasons to avoid appearing before the Senate. She further claimed that Governor Guyo was continuing with political activities in Isiolo while in the company of police officers despite failing to honour the committee’s summonses. It is not enough for the IG to explain to the Committee his efforts,
Dullo said. This Committee should move the House to compel the IG to appear before the Committee of the Whole,
she added. Dullo warned that the Senate risked losing the confidence of residents of Isiolo if it failed to act and ensure that police comply with its directives.
Committee Clash Over Police Authority and Language
Committee Chairperson Senator Moses Kajwang’ Criticises Police Communication Style
The tone of Kanja’s letter triggered immediate anger among committee members. Committee Chairperson Senator Moses Kajwang’ launched a scathing critique of the communication style used by the police leadership. The wording in the letter is not useful at all,
Kajwang’ said, describing the language as casual. He said the explanation created the impression that the National Police Service was unable to enforce Parliament’s directives. It is unfortunate that the impression he creates in the letter is that the NPS is clueless, ineffective and powerless,
Kajwang’ said.
Kajwang’ added that the failure by the police to arrest such a known public figure is sending the wrong signal to the public. The failure by the police to arrest such a known public figure is sending the wrong signal to the public,
he said. The debate highlighted a deeper tension over institutional roles. During previous committee interactions, Kanja had reaffirmed the legal obligation under Article 125 requiring the National Police Service to assist Parliament, noting that the service stands ready to arrest governors if given clear instructions on timing and presentation venues. At a past meeting with Senators, the Inspector General reaffirmed the authority granted under Article 125, stating that the National Police Service (NPS) is obligated to assist Parliament where individuals fail to comply with summonses. The Inspector General indicated that the Service is prepared to arrest Governors if formally directed, adding that the Committee must issue clear instructions on when and where they should be presented.
Divided Senators Weigh Escalation Against Cooperation
Senator Samson Cherarkey and Senator Okong’o Omogeni Debate Summons Escalation
Senators remain sharply divided on how aggressively to handle the Inspector General’s absence. Senator Samson Cherarkey supported immediate punitive measures, arguing that public perception paints the Senate as toothless. We are being mob-lynched by the public on matters of accountability. People think we are not serious,
Cherarkey said. Let’s issue the summons because this is contempt. He has defied the invitation and we should make him appreciate the importance of respecting constitutional institutions,
he added.
Conversely, Senator Okong’o Omogeni urged caution, warning that issuing immediate summonses could fracture the working relationship between the legislature and the police service, shifting focus away from accountable governors. If we can confirm that his trip to China is legitimate, the best solution would be to give him another date to appear,
Omogeni said.
