Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo is scheduled to appear before the Senate plenary next week in a high-stakes battle to retain his seat, following his impeachment by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
The Senate will hear the case on Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9, 2025, after a motion to form an 11-member special committee to investigate the matter failed to pass.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed that the full House would now handle the proceedings.
“The motion having been negatived, the route of a special committee is abandoned. This implies the Senate will now investigate the proposed removal from office of Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo through plenary,” said Speaker Kingi.
Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale had introduced the motion on behalf of the Majority Leader, but it was opposed by Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, who declined to second it — effectively sending the matter to plenary.
The Senate proceedings will go on despite a court order from the Isiolo High Court, where Justice Heston Nyaga declared the impeachment process null and void.
Justice Nyaga ruled that a conservatory order issued on June 16 — which barred the Isiolo County Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment — remained valid and had not been complied with.
He found Speaker Mohamed Roba in contempt of court and ordered him to appear in person on Monday, June 30.
Nonetheless, 16 out of 18 MCAs reportedly met on Thursday last week and unanimously voted to impeach Governor Guyo.
Governor Guyo has claimed that he was never formally invited to respond to the allegations levelled against him.
The legality of the process is now under intense scrutiny. The original motion to impeach Guyo was tabled on June 10, prompting him to seek and obtain court orders halting the process.
However, the Assembly later introduced a new impeachment motion on June 18, raising further legal questions.
Reports indicated that MCAs may not have convened in the official county assembly chamber, and no alternative venue was publicly gazetted, a situation that could affect the validity of the session.
“If they sat in the Isiolo chamber, they should produce video footage showing the withdrawal of the initial motion, introduction of a new one, debate, and the invitation to the governor to defend himself,” a source close to the legal team said.
Guyo has since filed a fresh petition challenging the Assembly's actions and obtained additional court orders restraining the Speaker, the Clerk, and the Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment.
On Friday, his legal team, led by lawyers Eric Theuri and Elias Mutuma, filed a contempt of court application against the Assembly’s leadership.
Justice Nyaga subsequently summoned both the Speaker and Clerk to appear in person on June 30 to respond.
