Isiolo governor's impeachment escalates to full Senate plenary

Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo. [File, Standard]

The Senate will hear the impeachment motion against Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan, also known as Abdi Guyo, through plenary sessions after a proposal to establish a special committee was rejected on the floor on Monday.

Speaker Amason Kingi informed the House that the hearings will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Kingi directed Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye to summon the impeached Governor and representatives of the Isiolo County Assembly to appear before the Senate. He also called on all parties involved to submit their responses to the Clerk's office by close of business on July 4.

"I direct Governor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan and the Isiolo County Assembly to submit all documents relating to the impeachment process to the Office of the Senate Clerk by Friday this week, in preparation for the hearings commencing next Tuesday," Kingi stated.

Chief Whip Boni Khalwale had moved a motion to establish a special Senate committee of 11 members to investigate the charges brought against the Governor by the Isiolo County Assembly. However, the motion failed to secure a seconder among the Senators present.

Consequently, Kingi declared Khalwale's motion collapsed, paving the way for the House to hear the charges in plenary. Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo opposed the motion, calling instead for the matter to be handled in plenary rather than by a committee.

"Pursuant to Section 33(3)(b) of the County Governments Act and Standing Order 80(1)(a) of the Senate Standing Orders, I hereby proceed to read the charges against the Governor of Isiolo as contained in the motion of impeachment by the Isiolo County Assembly," Kingi announced.

The Governor is accused of grossly violating section 30(2)(k) of the County Governments Act by failing to deliver an annual State of the County address for the three years he has been in office.

Guyo is also accused of violating Articles 201(d) and (e) of the Constitution by employing an excessively large workforce, including 36 advisors, 31 Chief Officers despite only six departments, and two Deputy County Secretaries whose positions are not legally recognised. "This has resulted in an excessive wage bill amounting to 46 per cent of the annual revenue allocation, far exceeding the 35 per cent limit prescribed under section 25(1)(a) and (b) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015," Kingi said.

He is further accused of disregarding criteria for establishing offices within the County Public Service by creating positions without the involvement of the County Public Service Board, violating Articles 10(2), 73, 232, and 235 of the Constitution, along with sections 59, 59A, 60, and 62 of the County Governments Act.

Guyo is charged with violating Articles 10(2), 185, and 201 of the Constitution by refusing to implement County Assembly resolutions to manage Isiolo's public debt, weakening the Assembly's authority and causing excessive debt.

He also allegedly mismanaged Sh30 million in bursary funds, violating Articles 201(d) and (e) of the Constitution. Guyo is also accused of abuse of office, citing breaches of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act.

Additionally, Guyo is alleged to have made sexist remarks towards Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, violating leadership standards and constitutional rights.

He is also said to have been largely absent from Isiolo, running county affairs from Nairobi-impacting service delivery.

The Senate will now hear the charges and decide the Governor's fate.