Isiolo residents slam MCAs’ move to impeach governor without consultation

They called for the withdrawal of the motion to allow for dialogue and arbitration

by FELIX KIPKEMOI

North-eastern14 June 2025 - 11:09

In Summary

The residents called for the impeachment motion to be withdrawn to give room for elders to mediate and allow Governor Guyo to address the concerns raised.
They said failure to do so would lead to elders either validating or rejecting the motion after arbitration.

*Former MCA Ngaremara Ekwaum Teru from the Turkana community, when they addressed the press at the Municipal grounds on June 13, 2025/COURTESY*

A section of Isiolo residents from various ethnic groups that live in the county have slammed the move by MCAs to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo.

Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the motion to allow for dialogue and arbitration, the residents argued that this was done without public or elder consultation.

On Monday, Sericho ward MCA Abubakar Godana tabled the notice of motion to impeach Governor Guyo.

Godana cited abuse of office, financial mismanagement and gross misconduct as some of the grounds for his impeachment.

The motion has so far received support from 16 out of 18 MCAs.

The debate has been scheduled for Tuesday next week.

Isiolo community members, led by Somali Council of Elders Secretary General Idle Hassan, Gabra Council of Elders Chairperson Omar Godana and the Alternative Justice System (AJS) Chairperson for the Samburu Council of Elders Joyce Nairisiae, faulted the move by MCAs, claiming it bypassed all other avenues of dispute resolution.

"There were several avenues to explore before resorting to impeachment. The MCAs should have first consulted their elders and constituents at the ward level," said Hassan.

*The residents during the meeting on June 13, 2025/COURTESY*

He said the impeachment should always be the last point of call after all other interventions fail to bear fruit.

Godana called for intervention by the President, alleging the planned impeachment proceedings against the governor were influenced by external political forces.

"Caution needs to be exercised to ensure that Isiolo does not slide into ethnic chaos courtesy of influence from outside in internal political affairs," he stated.

On her part, Nairisiae noted that Isiolo had made significant steps in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and the MCAs should have given dialogue a chance before proceeding with the impeachment.

Despite the tension, the residents and elders called upon the people of Isiolo to remain peaceful as they await response from the MCAs.

Hassan further noted Isiolo has historically dealt with cattle-related conflict, but warned that the current political standoff risks creating unprecedented ethnic divisions if not resolved peacefully.