Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo when he appeared before the Senate in Nairobi on November 14, 2024.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo is a man under siege — in the words of County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba, "the governor is now a rowdy tenant."
Besides facing ouster through impeachment, the governor has also been served with a notice of eviction from his office by the County Assembly Speaker.
The executive is housed within the precincts of the County Assembly since the construction of their offices is yet to be completed.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo when he appeared before the Senate in Nairobi on November 14, 2024.
Since the inception of devolution, the Isiolo County Assembly and the County Executive have been coexisting under one roof, a proof of the political harmony in the devolved unit.
But recent events have seen the two arms of government locking horns, leading to the tabling of an impeachment motion on June 10.
However, for the last two years, Senator Fatuma Dullo has persistently faulted the county government, citing mismanagement of health, employment irregularities, misappropriation of funds, and stalled projects.
Last year, Senator Dullo alleged threats to her life after she voiced her concerns over irregular recruitment in the county.
Governor Guyo has repeatedly denied the allegations before the Senate, terming them a political witch hunt by opponents.
In February, when President William Ruto was heckled, Senator Dullo blamed the incident on top political leaders, including Governor Guyo.
The recent political developments in the upper eastern county continued a few days after Governor Guyo came under fire over what were considered sexist attacks on Senator Dullo during Madaraka Day celebrations.
Nine days after the much-condemned incident, Sericho MCA Abubakar Godana tabled a notice of motion for the impeachment of Governor Guyo on charges of abuse of office, gross misconduct, and gross violation of the Constitution and other laws.
Abuse of office
Specifically, the Isiolo County boss is charged with violating the County Governments Act, the Leadership and Integrity Act, the Protection against Domestic Violence Act, 2015, and the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.
Among the offences are failure to implement resolutions of the County Assembly, leading to ballooning county debts, an ineffective County Treasury, and massive loss of public funds.
“The governor has persistently made public pronouncements threatening the peaceful coexistence of communities in Isiolo County. This is in contravention of the National Cohesion and Integration Act,” the impeachment motion states.
On abuse of office, the governor is accused of appointing 36 advisors and 31 chief officers, despite Isiolo County receiving the third-lowest allocation in the country.
“This is against prudent use of public resources as provided in the Public Finance Management Act. It is further contrary to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission circular, which limits the number of advisors to four individuals,” the motion reads.
Governor Guyo is also accused of giving chief officers two-year contracts, ‘creating an environment of fear and uncertainty.’
The governor is also in trouble for failing to renew the contracts of 20 chief officers and instead renewing five contracts through a questionable process.
On the charge of gross misconduct, the governor has been cited for making disrespectful, demeaning, and sexist remarks against Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
“The governor has violated Article 73 of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act by failing to professionally perform his duties owing to constant absence from office. The governor has been executing the functions of the county government from Nairobi,” Mr Godana said.
The county boss is also accused of using divisive and unbecoming language to the detriment of prudent public service, undermining the office and leading to loss of public trust.
But the governor has blamed the impeachment attempt on external interference.
“I recognise that the MCAs are elected leaders just like me and that they represent the people. They are good people, but they have been influenced by a few people on this matter of impeachment. I will look for them so that development programmes do not stall due to political fights,” Mr Guyo said.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Investments and Special Funds in Nairobi on May 15, 2025.
The governor has accused the County Assembly Speaker of leading the attempt to have him ousted from office.
He said that despite being accused of failing in his mandate, he has initiated many development programmes in the county.
“I am accused of having done nothing in Isiolo, yet a lot of development programmes are ongoing. I have improved the health sector by employing more medics. We have completed an emergency unit with a 14-bed High Dependency Unit. We have done a lot of work in supplying water to the residents,” the governor said.
He said his administration has sunk 68 boreholes across the county to increase access to safe and clean water in the arid county.
The feud between the Assembly and the Executive worsened last week after MCAs alleged threats to their lives, forcing them to go into hiding.
On Wednesday, MCAs who had arrived at the Assembly premises early to table a fresh impeachment motion had to be evacuated in a police armoured carrier as the security situation escalated at the county headquarters.
County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding said the work of the police was made difficult by the fact that the governor and the MCAs share offices.
“The challenge is that the County Assembly and the Governor’s office share the same compound. We have instructed the governor to leave the premises,” Mr Omoding said.
Tensions flared outside the County Assembly after MCA Godana withdrew an earlier notice of motion for the impeachment of Governor Guyo and tabled a fresh motion in the Wednesday morning sitting.
The move was meant to counter a court order issued on Monday stopping debate on the notice of motion dated June 10.
In the ensuing attack, the Assembly chamber was vandalized and Hansard equipment damaged.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo (second right) with (from left) Farouk Kibet, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomurukai during a fundraising event in Uasin Gishu County on April 25, 2025.
“This reckless and unlawful act appears to have been a deliberate attempt to intimidate Members and interfere with the constitutional operations of the County Assembly. The Office of the Speaker unequivocally condemns this incident and calls upon national security agencies to take immediate and decisive action to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. The safety and sanctity of the Assembly must never be compromised,” Speaker Roba said.
Fearing for their lives, the MCAs sought the help of the police to leave the compound.
While the MCAs intend to conduct public participation on Tuesday and debate the impeachment motion on Thursday, Speaker Roba says their lives are at risk.
"It is unfortunate that the Constitution was suspended on Wednesday as goons attacked the Assembly. We are glad that no blood was shed. I urge the police to provide security to the MCAs as they undertake their constitutional mandate," Mr Roba said.
But the governor has extended an olive branch, calling for dialogue with the MCAs.
However, 16 out of the 18 members of the Isiolo County Assembly have vowed to continue with their oversight mandate, which includes impeaching the governor.
