Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has firmly rejected allegations of misconduct, as the Senate on Tuesday commenced a three-day hearing to determine his political fate following an impeachment vote by the County Assembly.
Appearing before the Senate, Governor Guyo entered a plea of “not guilty” to all charges read out by the Clerk, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal and political battle.
The Isiolo County Assembly has accused the governor of multiple violations, including abuse of office, gross misconduct, and breach of the Constitution. Key among the charges is the alleged irregular hiring of staff, with MCAs claiming that Guyo appointed 36 advisors twice the legal cap of 18 and named 31 individuals as chief officers, despite the county having only six operational departments. The appointments, they argue, were carried out without the involvement of the County Public Service Board, in violation of established procedures.
The governor is also facing accusations of disregarding the Assembly’s directives, particularly on matters of public finance management. MCAs claim his administration failed to act on policy recommendations aimed at addressing Isiolo’s ballooning public debt.
Further complicating the case is a resurfaced incident in which Governor Guyo is alleged to have made a sexist comment directed at Senator Fatuma Dullo. The Assembly has cited this remark as part of a broader claim of gender-based psychological violence.
Representing the governor, a legal team led by constitutional lawyer Elisha Ongoya and former Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri, dismissed the charges as politically motivated and procedurally flawed. They argued that critical documents tabled by the Assembly were either inconsistent or falsified.
“There are glaring contradictions between the Hansard and the evidence presented,” Theuri told the Senate. “These discrepancies are not just clerical errors they point to the fabrication of records outside the formal Assembly process.”
The impeachment trial, which will unfold over three days, places Governor Guyo’s leadership under intense scrutiny as Senators weigh the evidence to determine whether he will remain in office or be forced to step down.
