Wetang’ula Warns MPs Over Repeated Summons of Ruto’s Appointees
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has issued a strong warning to Members of Parliament over what he described as the excessive and uncoordinated summoning of senior government officials by parliamentary committees.
Speaking on Tuesday during the 2026 Legislative Retreat for Members of the National Assembly held in Nakuru, Wetang’ula said his office has received several complaints from members of the Executive who feel they are being unfairly and repeatedly summoned to appear before Parliament.
According to the Speaker, Cabinet Secretaries (CSs), Principal Secretaries (PSs), and heads of key state institutions are increasingly being called before multiple committees to respond to the same issues, even after already appearing before another committee on the matter.
He said this practice is not only inefficient but also creates unnecessary pressure on government operations.
Wetang’ula noted that the most affected officials include Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Acting Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei.
He explained that whenever there is a pending employment or administrative issue within public institutions, committee members often rush to summon the heads of those institutions without proper coordination.
“My attention has been drawn to a peculiar and concerning trend within our committees. Whenever there is a pending employment issue in public institutions, the heads of those institutions are invited by more than one committee to answer the same questions,” Wetang’ula said.
While acknowledging that oversight of the Executive is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, the Speaker cautioned MPs to exercise this role responsibly.
He warned that repeated summonses could create the perception of intimidation, harassment, or undue pressure, and may also lead to administrative paralysis within government institutions.
To address the issue, Wetang’ula directed Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei and her liaison team to urgently review the process through which Executive officials are invited to committee sittings. He said the goal is to harmonise the system and ensure that oversight is conducted in an orderly, fair, and respectful manner.
The Speaker’s warning comes at a time when tensions are rising between Parliament and the National Police Service. The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has formally summoned Inspector General Douglas Kanja over allegations that he has failed to respect parliamentary authority.
The summons followed the Inspector General’s failure to arrest and present Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit before the committee. The governor has repeatedly ignored CPAC’s invitations to explain how billions of shillings allocated to Samburu County during the 2023/24 financial year were used.
CPAC Chairperson Senator Moses Kajwang criticised the police chief’s inaction, saying it undermines Parliament’s constitutional mandate. He demanded that the Inspector General appear before the committee within seven days to explain why he has not implemented Parliament’s resolutions.
“The police must understand that they do not operate under a different constitutional order. This Committee will not tolerate contempt of Parliament by the Inspector General or his failure to facilitate our work,” Kajwang said.
Governor Lelelit had earlier skipped a CPAC summons scheduled for December 4, 2025, leading to a fine of Ksh500,000. Following his continued absence, the committee instructed the police on December 9 to locate, apprehend, and present the governor before Parliament by December 18.
However, in a response dated December 18, Inspector General Douglas Kanja said police officers were unable to trace the governor, making it impossible to carry out the arrest and produce him before the committee.
The unfolding standoff highlights growing concerns over the balance of power between Parliament and the Executive, as well as the need for clearer coordination and mutual respect among constitutional institutions.
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