Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has been impeached barely two weeks after a motion was filed against him on allegations of misconduct.

The county boss was impeached on Thursday, June 26,  after a decisive vote in the Isiolo County Assembly, where 16 out of 18 MCAs supported the motion to oust him.

On Thursday, members of the public engaged in a public participation exercise where the vote was split on whether to oust the governor.

Those opposing the impeachment were critical of Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba, accusing him of pressuring MCAs to back the motion. The residents threatened to recall MPs, insisting that elected leaders should remain impartial.

An image of Isiolo Governor-elect Abdi Guyo.

File

On the other hand, those for the impeachment faulted Governor Guyo's regime for being marred by endless wrangles, as they called for a fresh start. 

Governor Guyo's tenure has been punctuated by controversy, with allegations dating as far back as 2024, when there were escalating tensions between county leadership and national oversight bodies concerning the accountability and management of public resources.

On June 10, Guyo came under fire after failing to honour two invitations to appear before the Senate Standing Committee on Health to address critical issues in his county.

Irregular hirings have also been a point of contention during Guyo's tenure, with the governor getting flagged by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee for employing 36 advisors, whilst the law only approves four.

According to the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, the irregular hiring constituted a massive wastage of public resources.

Since the motion was filed, Isiolo has been hampered by wrangles within its top leadership, with sections of MCAs who backed the motion decrying their safety. 

At one point, the High Court temporarily intervened, ordering a stop to impeachment proceedings pending hearing and determination of the case before it.

Further, the County Assembly on Thursday almost failed to take place after Speaker Roba was arrested on Monday before being released on bond. Roba has since attributed the arrest to Governor Guyo, accusing the county boss of trying to derail the impeachment vote.

As it stands, Governor Guyo can contest his impeachment, as the law provides for an impeached county boss to involve the courts if any part of the process is deemed unconstitutional or if due process is violated.

File Photo of Isiolo County Governor Abdi Guyo

File