Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has, once again, found herself at the centre of public scrutiny, and rightly so. Her failure to appear before the Senate Lands Committee seven times betrays both her responsibilities as a minister and the expectations of public office in a democratic society.
The Senate Lands Committee, now chaired by Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki, has summoned Wahome to address seven pressing petitions. These matters, concerning land injustices, environmental degradation, and the eviction of squatters across the country, directly affect the lives and dignity of countless Kenyans. Yet, Wahome appears to have treated both the invitations and a formal summons with thinly veiled contempt.
Her latest no-show was attributed to an overseas commitment, attending the World Bank Land Conference in Washington. While this explanation may be plausible, it accounts for only one of seven absences. What of the previous six? Wahome has offered no explanations, no apologies, and no regard for the legislative arm tasked with oversight.
Public service is not a personal favour to the citizenry; it is a constitutional duty. When a Cabinet Secretary evades accountability, the ripple effects are severe: decisions go unchecked, grievances remain unresolved, and public trust erodes. Wahome’s persistent failure to honour the committee’s invitations and a formal summons constitutes a dereliction of duty.
Senators Faki and James Murango, newly appointed to the committee, have rightly demanded answers. Their frustrations reflect the public’s: Why is a top government official behaving as if she is beyond reproach?
To make matters worse, the issues under inquiry are not technicalities, they are urgent, human-centred problems. In Kisii, squatters at Mwabundusi farm face eviction by a state agency without title deeds. In Homa Bay, Sukari Industries is accused of poisoning Lake Victoria with untreated waste. In Busia, taxpayers question a KSh24 million dam that could have been built for a fraction of the cost through basic desilting. In Taita Taveta, over 1,300 people await clarity on their land settlement status.
These are not theoretical disputes; they are lives in limbo. The people deserve better than a Cabinet Secretary who selectively responds to summonses.
Wahome’s conduct sets a dangerous precedent, signalling to other public officials that oversight is optional and Parliament can be dismissed with impunity. This cannot be tolerated.
For a government that respects the rule of law and operates with transparency, those entrusted with power must submit to scrutiny. Wahome’s office is not her personal domain; it belongs to the Kenyan people. Respect for that office must be non-negotiable. If Wahome cannot find the time to engage with the people’s representatives on matters affecting millions, she may no longer deserve the honour and burden of public office.
