He described the accusations as baseless and said there was no evidence to support claims of political witch-hunts within the Senate oversight process.
Kingi stressed that the Senate is performing a responsibility clearly assigned to it by the Constitution.
He explained that the Senate has a duty to monitor how county governments use public funds and ensure that taxpayers’ money is properly managed and accounted for.
“The Senate wishes to reiterate that its oversight role over county governments is firmly anchored in the Constitution,” Kingi stated.
He added that the Senate will continue carrying out its duties without fear or favour, saying the goal is to protect public resources and ensure transparency in county operations.
The Speaker warned governors against ignoring summons issued by Senate committees.
He said that county leaders are required by law to appear before Senate committees whenever they are called to explain how public money has been spent.
According to Kingi, refusing to honour these summons would undermine accountability and weaken efforts to promote responsible governance.
Kingi specifically pointed out the important roles played by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPIC).
He explained that these committees review financial records and examine how counties spend funds allocated to them by the national government.
Their work, he said, helps ensure that development funds are used for their intended purposes.
The Speaker emphasised that oversight is not meant to punish governors but to strengthen financial management and improve service delivery at the county level.
He noted that counties receive large amounts of public funds every year, making it necessary for leaders to provide clear and honest reports on how the money is used.
Kingi also reassured the public that the Senate remains committed to carrying out its responsibilities in a professional and fair manner.
He said the oversight process is guided by law and is meant to benefit citizens by ensuring that public resources are protected from misuse or corruption.
“The Senate remains committed to fulfilling its constitutional mandate and ensuring that oversight over public funds allocated to county governments remains robust, objective and timely,” Kingi said in his statement.
The disagreement between governors and Senators has raised concerns about cooperation between national and county leadership.
Some governors have argued that the Senate oversight process has become too harsh and political, while Senators have maintained that accountability is necessary to ensure proper use of public funds.
Political observers say the standoff highlights ongoing challenges in balancing independence of county governments with national oversight.
They note that devolution was introduced to bring services closer to citizens, but it also requires strong monitoring systems to ensure resources are not mismanaged.