NAIROBI — Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has officially gazetted three special sittings to begin the impeachment proceedings of Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo. The hearings will take place in full plenary on July 8, 9, and 10, starting at 9:00 a.m. each day in the Senate Chamber.
According to Gazette Notice No. 8732, the sessions will address the charges brought forward by the Isiolo County Assembly, which include claims of constitutional violations, financial misconduct, abuse of office, and alleged ethical breaches.
Kingi stated, “The business to be transacted at the sittings shall be the investigation of the proposed removal from office by impeachment of Hon. Abdi Ibrahim Hassan, the Governor of Isiolo County.”
Legal tensions loom
The Senate’s move comes days after the High Court, through Justice Heston Nyaga, declared the Isiolo County Assembly’s impeachment motion legally void due to a pending petition filed by Governor Guyo. The court found that the County Assembly had violated interim court orders and summoned Speaker Mohammed Roba to explain the defiance in a June 30 session.
Despite this, the Senate has opted to proceed. Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo on Monday refused to support a motion to appoint an 11-member special committee, leaving the full plenary to hear the case. This decision raises the political stakes and ensures public visibility.
Charges Against the Governor
Governor Guyo faces seven charges:
- Failure to deliver the mandatory State of the County Address for three years.
- Unauthorized hiring of 36 advisors, 31 chief officers, and two deputy secretaries despite the county only having six departments allegedly inflating the wage bill above legal limits.
- Bypassing the County Public Service Board in making executive appointments.
- Mismanagement of KSh30 million allocated to the county bursary fund.
- Issuing irregular contracts and undermining job security for county staff.
- Allegedly making sexist remarks about Senator Fatuma Dullo and issuing inflammatory clan-based statements.
- Accusations of running the county from Nairobi instead of from Isiolo.
Governor Guyo has rejected the charges, calling the entire process flawed. “This impeachment is driven by malice, mischief, and manipulation,” he stated, insisting that due process was not followed.
Institutional confrontation
The trial revives debate over the boundaries between Parliament and the Judiciary. While the High Court suspended the County Assembly’s resolution, the Senate appears to be leaning on past precedents to justify its decision to proceed. Citing earlier rulings by former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, lawmakers argue that judicial orders cannot halt legislative duties.
Muturi once stated, “Obeying such orders would be idiotic and unreasonable,” a position now echoed in current proceedings.
Speaker Kingi directed all parties involved to file their written responses by July 4. The Senate Clerk is expected to circulate all documents to members by July 7, ahead of the opening session.
The case marks a critical test for the balance of power between Kenya’s courts and Parliament, as well as for Governor Guyo’s political future.
