TANA RIVER: The Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation has issued a stern warning to Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana, accusing him of blatant evasion and defiance of parliamentary oversight. Following a county inspection tour, the Committee vowed to invoke the full authority of the Senate against the Governor, who allegedly fled his office upon learning of their impending visit.
Governor Godhana is reported to have deliberately avoided a scheduled meeting with the Senators, despite receiving official communication about the engagement nearly a month in advance.
According to Committee Chairperson Senator Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka Nithi), the Governor’s absence was not only suspicious but a deliberate attempt to obstruct accountability.
“We were shocked to find Governor Dhadho missing from his office when we arrived,” said Senator Gataya. “This is a man whose administration is currently enforcing numerous regulations that we consider illegal. Our purpose was to gather detailed information, yet he chose to escape from a constitutional oversight mission.”
He added, “If he thinks he can hide, he is wrong. The Senate will confront him head-on until he learns to respect the law and the institutions that uphold it.”
The Senators refused to meet with the Deputy Governor, insisting that Governor Dhadho must personally answer for the actions of his administration. They also questioned why, out of four Governors scheduled for similar engagements, only Governor Dhadho deliberately avoided the Senate delegation.
“This is not a casual visit. We are here representing the entire Senate, which is tasked with protecting devolution and ensuring counties comply with the Constitution,” Senator Gataya emphasized.
“There are already several questionable regulations in effect in Tana River County,” he added. “If Governor Dhadho believes he can get away with this level of impunity, he is in for a rude awakening. The Senate will not back down—we will exercise our powers to the fullest.”
Earlier in the day, the Committee met with members of the Tana River County Assembly’s Delegated Legislation Committee. The Senators praised the MCAs for their cooperation and urged them to strengthen internal oversight mechanisms to ensure county laws align with national standards.
The Committee’s field visits across four counties—Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Tana River—concluded Friday.
Lawmakers will now retreat to compile a comprehensive report, expected to include strong recommendations on Governor Dhadho’s conduct and legal irregularities in Tana River County.
Senators present during the mission included Chairperson Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka Nithi), Vice Chairperson Danson Mungatana (Tana River), Joyce Korir, Julius Murgor (West Pokot), Betty Montet, Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), and Issa Juma Boy (Kwale).
