This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
On June 25, 2020, Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri was elected as the new chairman of the Senate Committee on County Public Accounts and Investment (CPAIC) in a unanimous vote.
Senator Hargura Godana from Marsabit was elected as the committee's vice-chairman, replacing Kimani Wamatangi from Kiambu.
The CPAIC oversees the expenditure of the 47 counties, a role equivalent to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Public Investment Committee (PIC) of the National Assembly.
Senator Ongeri's election comes after a two-month period of confusion, following the initial election of Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina as chair against the wishes of his sponsoring party, the Orange Democratic Movement.
Senator Kina had five votes against Senator Ongeri's four in the initial election, but his win was later contested by Minority leader James Orengo, who threatened to withdraw their membership from the oversight team.
Senator Kina had moved to court to halt his removal from the seat, but the case was later withdrawn after he mended fences with ODM boss Raila Odinga.
Senator Ongeri will now be tasked with grilling county chiefs on the expenditure of the 2018-19 financial year, as well as governors who failed to appear during the tenure of Senator Moses Kajwang.
