IG Kanja Recalled to Explain Failure to Arrest Isiolo Governor

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has been summoned once more to testify before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) regarding the National Police Service's (NPS) inability to arrest Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo. Kanja had initially scheduled to appear before the committee on September 7, 2026, to address the circumstances surrounding the governor's non-compliance with the committee's invitations and summonses.

However, Kanja did not attend the session, instead sending a letter to the committee explaining he was set to embark on an official visit to China on the day in question.

Kanja stated that he had assembled a special team with the intent to apprehend Governor Guyo and bring him before the committee, but claimed that the governor had anticipated this and managed to evade the police. Despite Kanja's explanation, the committee members deemed it insufficient and criticized the tone of his letter, describing it as casual and unconvincing.

Committee Chairperson Senator Moses Kajwang’ lambasted the language used in Kanja's letter and contended that it painted the NPS as inept and powerless. Kajwang’ questioned how law enforcement could fail to arrest a notorious public figure such as Governor Guyo, asserting that such an action sends a negative message to the public.

Senator Fatuma Dullo, representing Isiolo Senator, accused Kanja of demonstrating contempt for Parliament and called for the committee to escalate the matter, potentially escalating it to the House. She noted that Governor Guyo was continuing to engage in political activities in Isiolo and was in the company of police officers while failing to respond to the committee's requests.

Dullo warned that if the Senate did not take action, it would risk losing the trust of Isiolo residents. Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, Senator Samson Cherarkey, supported the summons, arguing that Kanja's defiance of the committee's invitation was a matter of constitutional accountability. However, Senator Okong’o Omogeni urged caution, suggesting that if Kanja's trip to China was legitimate, it would be better to reschedule his appearance rather than issue a summons.

The committee ultimately decided to maintain the focus on the issues concerning the Isiolo County Government and assigned a special report to address its budgetary and financial accountability concerns, with an expected submission by October.