NAIROBI, Kenya — Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Isiolo County Assembly as the Senate began a two-day plenary impeachment trial to determine his fate.
The governor’s plea came as senators convened to hear the case, which was brought following a vote by 16 out of 18 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) on June 26, approving his removal from office.
Guyo is facing three charges:
- Gross violation of the Constitution,
- Abuse of office, and
- Gross misconduct.
Allegations Under Gross Violation of the Constitution
The County Assembly alleges that Governor Guyo:
- Failed to deliver the annual State of the County Address for three consecutive years,
- Hired a bloated workforce without following due process,
- Ignored legal criteria in establishing offices within the County Public Service,
- Failed to implement recommendations to manage public debt, and
- Mismanaged the bursary fund, with Sh30 million unaccounted for.
Accusations of Abuse of Office
Guyo is also accused of:
- Appointing 36 advisors, contrary to a Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) directive limiting the number,
- Hiring 31 Chief Officers, far above the approved 18 as per the 2022 staff establishment,
- Issuing two-year contracts to Chief Officers, allegedly creating a climate of fear,
- Failing to renew contracts for County Executive Committee Members, and
- Appointing two Deputy County Secretaries, positions not recognised under law.
Gross Misconduct Allegations
Under the third charge, the governor is alleged to have:
- Made sexist and disrespectful remarks directed at Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo,
- Issued divisive and derogatory statements against certain clans in the county, and
- Run county operations remotely from Nairobi, allegedly stalling service delivery.
What’s Next
The impeachment trial, being conducted by the full Senate in plenary, is expected to continue into Wednesday, with cross-examinations, witness presentations, and final submissions from both the County Assembly and the governor’s legal team.
Only the 47 elected senators representing counties will vote on whether to uphold or dismiss the charges. A minimum of 24 votes is required to remove the governor from office.
If impeached, Guyo will immediately cease to hold office, though he reserves the right to challenge the Senate’s decision in court.
