By Mumo Judah, Nairobi, June 4, 2026
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) for a detailed session examining the county’s financial audit reports, in what turned into a closely watched accountability hearing on the use of public funds.
The governor was summoned as part of the Senate’s ongoing oversight of devolved units, with lawmakers seeking explanations on a series of unresolved audit queries flagged by the Auditor General. The issues under review included inconsistencies in expenditure records, missing supporting documents for key payments, and variances between approved budgets and actual spending.
During the session at Parliament Buildings, senators subjected the governor to sustained questioning, demanding clarity on financial management practices within the county government. The committee focused heavily on expenditure lines that had repeatedly attracted audit queries in previous financial years, arguing that the issues pointed to systemic weaknesses in documentation and compliance.
The hearing was characterized by a tense exchange as lawmakers pressed for detailed breakdowns of county spending, procurement decisions, and justification for certain financial allocations that had raised concerns in audit reports. The committee insisted that county executives must strengthen internal controls to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
At one point during the proceedings, the pressure of cross-examination intensified as senators pursued specific inconsistencies in the submitted financial records. The session was briefly interrupted when the governor requested a short break before returning to continue with the questioning, after which the hearing resumed.
The CPAC chair and committee members reiterated that the Senate’s role is to ensure that counties adhere strictly to public finance management laws, noting that persistent audit queries undermine public trust in devolved governance structures.
The appearance is part of a wider wave of intensified Senate scrutiny targeting county governments across the country, with several governors recently called to account over similar audit concerns, procurement issues, and pending bills flagged by oversight bodies.
Mombasa County has in recent months faced increased attention from parliamentary committees, including earlier sessions before the Senate Investments and Special Funds Committee, which also interrogated aspects of financial management and expenditure patterns within the county executive.
The Senate CPAC is expected to compile its findings and recommendations following completion of the hearings, which will inform further action on audit compliance and financial governance reforms across all county governments.
