Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has pleaded not guilty to all three charges levelled against him as his impeachment trial began before the Senate on Monday, July 8, 2025.
The charges — gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, and gross misconduct — stem from a motion passed by the Isiolo County Assembly on June 13, 2025, where 18 of the 20 MCAs voted to remove him from office. The Senate now assumes the constitutional responsibility of evaluating the legality, merit, and procedural integrity of that motion.
The impeachment trial began with the formal reading of the charges, after which Governor Guyo, appearing in person, entered a not guilty plea on all counts.
The governor insisted that the accusations are baseless and politically engineered. His defence team told the Senate that the County Assembly had failed to present credible evidence or adhere to fair procedure in initiating the motion.
Governor Abdi Guyo is the key respondent in the ongoing trial, confronting serious accusations that could result in his ouster if proven. He is defended by a team of senior constitutional lawyers who have raised concerns about the motives and procedural legitimacy of the County Assembly’s move. According to Guyo’s defence, the impeachment is fuelled by a political vendetta arising from internal power wrangles within the country.
The Isiolo County Assembly, led by Speaker Mohamed Tubi, maintains that it acted within the law and laid out its case based on detailed reports and internal audits.
Senators, under the leadership of Speaker Amason Kingi, will now interrogate both sides. A select committee may be appointed to investigate the charges in detail, or the case could proceed in plenary with all senators participating in cross-examinations and deliberations.
The Senate officially opened the hearings on Monday, July 8, 2025, and the trial is expected to last up to ten working days, in line with Article 181 and Section 33 of the County Governments Act.
A final verdict must be delivered within this constitutionally prescribed timeframe. If two-thirds of the Senate votes to uphold the charges, Governor Guyo will be removed from office; if not, he will be reinstated.
The Isiolo County Assembly tabled the impeachment motion citing three key allegations. First, it accused Governor Guyo of violating the Constitution by consistently flouting procurement laws and awarding multimillion-shilling tenders without following due process. It claimed that several county projects were awarded through single-sourcing or biased selection, in breach of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.
Secondly, the governor was accused of abuse of office by allegedly appointing relatives and close associates to senior county positions without competitive recruitment. The Assembly claimed that nepotism, tribal favouritism, and personal loyalty became the basis of public appointments, sidelining qualified individuals and undermining merit-based hiring.
Lastly, the MCAs cited gross misconduct, accusing Guyo of creating a toxic environment within the County Executive. They claimed he unlawfully dismissed several County Executive Committee (CEC) members, intimidated staff, and refused to respond to summons and questions from the Assembly. They argued this pattern of governance eroded accountability and public trust.
Governor Guyo has denied all charges and pleaded not guilty to each. In his opening address before the Senate, he said:
“I plead not guilty to all the charges. This process has been weaponised to settle political scores. I have always acted in the best interest of the Isiolo people, and I am confident that the truth will come out.”
His legal team argued that the Assembly did not give him an adequate chance to be heard, failed to furnish him with clear particulars of the charges, and conducted the process in breach of natural justice. They also questioned the admissibility of some of the evidence tabled by the Assembly, describing it as politically motivated and procedurally flawed.
Senators will now deliberate on whether the charges meet the legal and constitutional threshold to remove a governor under Article 181 of the Constitution, which provides for impeachment on grounds of gross misconduct, violation of the Constitution or law, abuse of office, or physical or mental incapacity.
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