Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan, also known as Guyo, along with seven co-accused individuals, has been ordered arrested and arraigned by the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in connection with the alleged kidnapping and robbery of a former county health chief. The ODPP announced its decision on Friday, September 5, following a comprehensive review of an inquiry file submitted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). This development has sparked a significant political and legal stir within the county.

The allegations center around an incident that reportedly occurred on Thursday, June 19, in Machakos. According to the ODPP, former Isiolo County Chief Officer of Health, Abdirahaman Mohamed, was meeting with 15 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) who supported the governor's impeachment at the Outbark Hotel in Maanzoni. It was during this meeting that Governor Guyo and his supporters allegedly arrived on the scene, leading to a confrontation.

Under the purported instructions of Governor Guyo, the group is accused of disarming and assaulting Abdirahaman Mohamed before forcefully compelling him into a vehicle. Mohamed was subsequently blindfolded, severely beaten, and later abandoned in the Ruai Sewage area. During this traumatic ordeal, Abdirahaman reportedly lost several valuable possessions, including a licensed Glock pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition, an iPhone 16, KSh70,000 in cash, and other personal items.

Crucially, the ODPP stated that CCTV footage obtained from the hotel definitively placed Governor Guyo and the other suspects at the scene of the alleged crime. The seven co-accused individuals named in the charges include Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticah, identified as a former Isiolo South MP and a speaker to a faction of the Assembly allied with the Governor; Dade Boru, the County Secretary; Abdirashid Ali Diba, the MCA for Garba-Tula ward; Abdinur Dima Jillo, the MCA for Kinna; Ahmed Duale; Josephat Mwangi Komu; and Yusuf Maina. They are slated to face serious charges of kidnapping with intent to cause grievous harm and robbery with violence.

In response to the charges and arrest orders, Governor Abdi Guyo has publicly dismissed the allegations, asserting they are politically motivated and lack a factual basis. He committed to voluntarily presenting himself before the DCI at the earliest convenience to facilitate thorough investigations, while simultaneously urging his supporters and the residents of Isiolo to maintain calm. The county boss expressed strong confidence that truth and justice would ultimately prevail once a full investigation is concluded.

Adding a layer of legal complexity, Lady Justice Dorah Chepkwony had previously issued a conservatory order restraining the DCI and the ODPP from arresting, charging, or interfering with the petitioners, including Governor Guyo and the seven others, until their case could be heard. However, the DPP, on Friday afternoon, explicitly directed the DCI to proceed with the arrest and arraignment of the Governor and his co-accused, reiterating its unwavering commitment to executing its constitutional mandate in line with the law, public interest, and the impartial administration of justice.