Court halts Isiolo Governor Guyo’s impeachment

The High Court on Monday temporarily halted impeachment proceedings against Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo by the County Assembly.

This follows the governor's urgent application to the court on June 13, 2025, seeking to stop his removal from office through impeachment.

In an order issued by Justice Nyaga Mbogo, the County Assembly has been restrained from debating the motion tabled last week by Sericho Ward MCA Abubakar Godana pending the hearing and determination of the governor’s application.

The County Assembly is listed as the first respondent, the Speaker as the second respondent and MCA Godana as the third respondent.

“Pending the hearing and determination of this application inter partes, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining, barring, and preventing the respondents, either by themselves or their agents, from admitting, processing, debating, or considering the Notice of Motion dated June 10, 2025, for the proposed removal from office of the Governor of Isiolo County by impeachment, whether on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 or any other date the respondents may set,” reads the conservatory order dated June 16, 2025.

The application has been certified as urgent and is scheduled for further directions on June 30, 2025. The judge ordered that the application be served on all respondents by the close of business on June 17, 2025.

Additionally, MCA Godana has been directed to furnish Governor Guyo with a copy of the impeachment notice and all supporting documents within 48 hours of being served with the court order.

The respondents are to file their responses within seven days of service with the petitioner granted leave to file any supplementary affidavit within three days of receiving the responses.

The court’s intervention comes amid growing calls for political reconciliation in the county, with residents and elders urging all parties to resolve their disputes amicably.

Residents from various ethnic groups in Isiolo are calling for the impeachment motion to be withdrawn in favour of arbitration by elders to address any grievances.

Last Monday, MCA Godana tabled the notice of motion to impeach Governor Guyo accusing him of abuse of office, financial mismanagement and gross misconduct. The motion has reportedly received backing from 16 of the 18 MCAs who are said to have retreated to an undisclosed location ahead of the scheduled debate.

Call for President's intervention

Community leaders, including Somali Council of Elders Secretary General Idle Hassan, Gabra Council of Elders Chairperson Omar Godana, and Samburu Alternative Justice System Chairperson Joyce Nairisiae, criticised the MCAs for bypassing traditional conflict resolution mechanisms and failing to consult elders and constituents.

 “We urge the people of Isiolo to remain peaceful as they await a response from the MCAs, who went silent after tabling the impeachment notice,” Mr Hassan said.

MCA Godana has called for intervention from President William Ruto, alleging that the impeachment attempt has been influenced by external forces from a neighbouring county.