Isiolo MCAs agree to work with Guyo after failed impeachment

Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo survived impeachment after the Senate declared the process unprocedural. [File, Standard]

A section of Isiolo MCAs returned to their vandalised chambers, where they indicated they were ready for a truce with Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo.

Led by Speaker Mohammed Roba Qoto, the 11 MCAs said they were willing to work with Guyo on condition that he corrects his "past mistakes."

Guyo was impeached by the MCAs on June 26, 2025, but the ouster was overturned by the Senate on July 8, which declared the process unprocedural. 

However, with the MCAs showing willingness to work with the governor, questions have emerged over the official Speaker. In the build-up to the Senate proceedings that saved Guyo, a letter surfaced indicating Roba had resigned. It was signed by Clerk Salad Boru on June 27, 2025.

On the same day, Abdullahi Banticha, a finance executive in Guyo’s administration and former Isiolo South MP, was gazetted as the new Speaker.

Later, Boru revoked Banticha's appointment through a special gazette notice, paving the way for Qoto to resume his role.

On Tuesday, the MCAs and Roba addressed a rally in the town where they expressed willingness to work with the governor as long as he addresses his shortcomings as captured in the impeachment motion and Auditor General's reports.

Ngaramara Ward MCA Peter Losu said failure to address key problems in the county that range from bloated staff, irregular procurement, lack of service delivery and revival of stalled projects, will result in another impeachment motion. 

The MCAs accused Guyo of creating non-existent positions, 36 advisers instead of a maximum of four, 31 chief officers instead of 18 and two deputy county secretaries instead of one.

“The governor was told to clean up the county executive payroll, where there are hundreds of ghost workers. These are issues the Assembly, the Senate and the Auditor General raised,” said Chari Ward MCA Halima Abgudo.

The MCAs were categorical that they would not tolerate interference from the county executive.

“We have seen the hand of the executive in who should be Speaker, Clerk, and who even becomes the Majority and Minority leader among the MCAs. We will assert our oversight role without external interference,” said Sericho Ward MCA Abdubakar Godana.

At the same time, the MCAs called on police to speed up investigation into vandalism of the assembly by goons, where property worth millions of shillings was carted away or damaged.

The 11 out of 18 MCAs replaced their Oldonyiro Ward colleague David Lemantile as Deputy Speaker with his Wabera Ward counterpart Selasio Kiambi, and removed five MCAs who are in Guyo’s camp from key committees.

The Speaker informed the Assembly that United Democratic Movement (UDM) had formally communicated that Amina Omar and Fozia Jibril had been expelled from the party and their nomination to Isiolo Assembly revoked.

Roba further notified the offices of the Clerk and Sergeant at Arms that the duo should be treated as strangers in the assembly.