The Senate Speaker, Amason Kingi, has directed that the impeachment proceedings against Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo be heard in plenary on July 8 and 9. 

This follows the failure of a motion to form an 11-member special committee to probe the allegations, forcing the Senate to take up the matter as a whole.

“As communicated earlier by way of message on the resolution of the Isiolo County Assembly, the Standing Orders provide that the Senate may constitute a committee to investigate the matter or do the same in plenary. The motion having been negatived, the route of a special committee is hereby abandoned. That means the Senate will investigate the same in plenary,” Kingi ruled.

Guyo was impeached last week after 16 out of 18 Members of the County Assembly of Isiolo voted to remove him from office, citing stalling of development, gross mismanagement of county resources, and creating a climate of fear within the executive.

Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo meeting adelegation from the World Bank, the North Eastern Development Initiative (NEDI), and KeNHA, May 23, 2025.

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Abdi Guyo

Sericho MCA Abubakar Godana, who moved the motion, accused the governor of failing to meet local revenue targets despite the county’s low national allocation, inflating the executive with 36 advisors and 31 chief officers, and violating the constitution by not delivering an annual address for three years. 

He also faulted Guyo for illegally creating offices of advisers without involving the County Public Service Board.

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.

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. 

However, on Friday, the High Court in Meru handed embattled Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo a lifeline after ruling that his impeachment was null and void.

In his judgment, Justice Heston Mbogo maintained that the conservatory orders issued on June 25 were still in force, effectively barring the Isiolo County Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment. The ruling means Guyo will remain in office, at least for now, pending further legal proceedings.

On June 25,  the High Court in Meru issued conservatory orders temporarily barring the Isiolo County Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment motion against Guyo.

The ruling restrained the County Assembly, its Speaker, and its Clerk from admitting, debating, or acting on the impeachment motion dated June 10, 2025, until the matter was fully heard and determined.
 

Entrance to the Senate chambers in Nairobi.

Mzalendo