Isiolo governor Guyo not off the hook yet as Senate begins to hear ouster proceedings against him

Embattled Isiolo governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo is not off the hook yet and his fate now hangs in the balance as the Senate begin to her impeachment proceedings against him today.

Guyo was impeached by the Isiolo County Assembly with an overwhelming majority of 16 MCAs out of 18 despite having obtained a High Court order barring his removal from office.

“I have appointed Monday, June 30, 2025, as the day for a special sitting of the Senate. The sitting shall be held in the Senate Chamber at the Main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, commencing at 10.00am. The purpose is to hear the charges against Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan,” declared Kingi.

Under the provisions of the County Governments Act, if the Senate opts for a special committee, that body must determine whether the evidence substantiates the allegations against the governor.

He retains the right to appear personally or be represented. Should the committee find the charges unsubstantiated, proceedings under this section shall cease. Conversely, if the allegations are upheld, the Senate shall offer the Governor an opportunity to be heard before voting on the charges.

Today, the Senate is set to start the process of examining Guyo’s removal from office following charges laid by Isiolo County Assembly.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has convened a special sitting this morning to hear the accusations brought against Guyo.

The House will then determine whether to establish an eleven‑member special committee to investigate the matter and report back within 10 days, or alternatively, to require the governor’s appearance before the full Senate in plenary.

Speaker Kingi is expected to announce the chosen approach today afternoon, clarifying whether the Senate will proceed via committee or plenary.

His decision follows receipt of a letter dated June 26, 2025 from the Speaker of the Isiolo County Assembly, which endorsed a motion calling for governor Guyo’s removal through impeachment.

The motion to remove Guyo from office was tabled by Sericho Ward Rep Abubakar Godana on June 10, 2025.

The besieged county chief is accused of inflating the executive structure by appointing 36 advisors and 31 chief officers despite Isiolo County receiving the third-lowest revenue allocation.

During a recent grilling by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Homa Bay lawmaker Moses Kajwang’, Guyo denied appointing 36 advisors.

This is despite the Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu, flagging it in her latest report for the year ending June 2024.

In addition, the ward reps want the Senate to uphold the impeachment of Guyo, accusing him of failing to meet revenue targets and stalling key development projects in the county.

The county assembly further alleges that he failed to renew contracts of 20 chief officers, opting instead to selectively renew five through a questionable process.

The first-time governor is also being faulted for issuing short-term two-year contracts to chief officers, which the ward reps argue has created a toxic environment of fear and uncertainty.

While tabling the impeachment motion, Godana cited gross misconduct, violation of the constitution and various laws, and abuse of office.

Godana said Guyo violated Chapter Six of the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act and the Public Officers’ Ethics Act.

“These Acts provide for respect for the rule of law, good governance, accountability and transparency as key principles of leadership,” said Godana.

The impeachment comes to the Senate despite a court order barring the county assembly from proceeding with the motion.

However, the Senate has argued that courts should not stop lawmakers from performing their constitutional mandate, arguing that judicial review should be at the tail end of the process, not when the process has started.

The county assembly claimed that Guyo did not appear before it to defend himself despite being formally invited.

On June 17, High Court judge Heston Nyaga sitting in Isiolo certified an application filed by the governor as urgent and ordered that the motion not be admitted, processed, debated or considered pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Guyo had moved to court, accusing the County Assembly and Speaker Mohamed Roba of violating due process and sought access to the motion documents.

The Assembly relocated its proceedings from Isiolo to Nakuru and later Machakos amid reports that there was political interference to scuttle the impeachment motion.

There has been political tension in Isiolo County, which has also led to the ouster of Assembly Clerk Salad Boru Guracha.

The County Assembly Service Board suspended Guracha for allegedly cancelling a public participation forum linked to the impeachment.

However, the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nyeri reinstated Guracha pending hearing and determination of the matter.

A Gazette notice dated June 26, 2025, on the assembly’s resolution to approve a motion seeking Guyo’s removal from office was received by the Office of the Senate Speaker on June 27, 2025.

In response, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi issued a Gazette Notice dated June 27, 2025, inviting senators to the special sitting scheduled to commence at 10:00 am in the Senate Chamber.

The session’s primary agenda will be considering the impeachment charges levelled against Governor Hassan.

The Senate will determine whether to uphold or overturn the impeachment.

The Senate will either form an 11-member Special committee to investigate the charges or hear the charges in the plenary.

Should a majority of all Senators vote to uphold an impeachment charge, governor Guyo will immediately cease to hold office.

Failing that, the Speaker of the Senate will notify the Speaker of the County Assembly that the governor remains in office. The Act further stipulates that the County Assembly may only reintroduce the same motion within three months, should the Senate vote against removal.