Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba addressing the press at Mavoko Law Courts in Machakos County on August 28, 2025.Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba has stated that he will not be intimidated by his repeated arrests.
Roba accused his political rivals of perpetuating what he termed his “unlawful” arrests for standing with the truth and supporting the majority of Isiolo residents who are demanding accountability in the county’s leadership.
He said his repeated arrests were meant to distract locals from their calls for accountability from the county executive.
“This case is out of fear. People have started getting scared, and when fear takes over, they run in every direction trying to salvage their situation,” Roba said.
On Thursday, Roba addressed the press at Mavoko Law Courts in Athi River, Machakos County, after being released on bail.
He had spent two nights in police custody following his arrest in Nairobi.
Mavoko Senior Principal Magistrate Derrick Kuto ordered his release after he pleaded not guilty to two charges: unlawful use of a vehicle contrary to Section 294 of the Penal Code, Cap 63, Laws of Kenya, and willful obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duty, contrary to Section 103(1) of the National Police Service Act, Cap 84, Laws of Kenya.
He was released on a bond of Sh200,000 with a surety of a similar amount, or a cash bail of Sh100,000 with one contact person.
Kuto also lifted a warrant of arrest that had earlier been issued against Roba by the same court.
“We are ready for the case because I am the legitimate Speaker of Isiolo. The Speaker is elected by MCAs, and 18 out of 18 MCAs elected me on September 22, 2022. They have not removed me from office since then,” Roba said.
Several of his close family members, relatives, elected leaders, including MCAs, and Isiolo residents thronged both the Athi River Police Station, where he was held on Wednesday night and the Mavoko Law Courts, where he was charged, in solidarity with him.
He thanked all Isiolo residents from all walks of life who, he said, had sent him messages of encouragement while he was in police custody for the two nights.
Roba was arrested along Thika Road on Tuesday around 9:00 p.m. while travelling from Isiolo to Nairobi.
He was first held at Ruaraka Police Station in Nairobi before being moved to Athi River Police Station on Wednesday morning pending his plea-taking at Mavoko Law Courts.
“What you are seeing here is just mischief. At a time when accountability issues have begun, they are trying to hide things under this confusion. The other day, when I was arrested, at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, someone sneaked into the County Chambers and destroyed the chairs,” he said.
Roba continued:
“I want to tell him and those who sent him, let them come and demolish the chambers, even all the blocks, they cannot carry away the land where that office stands because the designated headquarters of the County Assembly of Isiolo is there. Even if they remove the last block, we shall sit there and continue with our assembly sessions as required legally. Even today at 2:00 p.m., my members went on with the session, and we shall continue.”
He told Isiolo residents that, as their duly elected leaders, they would not relent but would work tirelessly for them.
“We will not sleep as the County Assembly of Isiolo. My duty is to follow what the MCAs have instructed me,” Roba said.
Ngaremara MCA Peter Losu termed the charges against Roba at the Mavoko Law Courts as lies.
“Roba is the Speaker we voted for as Isiolo MCAs. For him to be in possession of motor vehicles bought using Isiolo residents’ money is his right. Those complaining that Roba is in the assembly and also in possession of those vehicles should know he is there and has them legally,” Losu said.
Losu described a meeting conducted in Oldonyiro Ward in Isiolo County on Wednesday as a public baraza [gathering], not a county assembly session.
“That was an MCA’s homecoming to remind residents that he is still in leadership. So, go and see what development projects his leadership has brought to the ward. But I want to tell you there is no county assembly session going on in Oldonyiro,” Losu said.
He added that the gazetted County Assembly of Isiolo is in Isiolo headquarters.
The county legislator urged residents not to take the law into their own hands despite frustrations arising from the ongoing political standoff in Isiolo.
“Let the relevant government agencies do their work. They should investigate what is going on in the county. Respect the government, abide by the law, and let the state do its job,” Losu pleaded with Isiolo residents.
He urged President William Ruto to intervene in Isiolo’s current political stalemate in the public’s best interest.
“We cannot continue witnessing government agencies that are supposed to ensure justice, deliberately denying Isiolo residents justice. President, intervene in what is happening in Isiolo,” Losu said.
He added that as leaders, they do not want Isiolo to regress.
“Isiolo residents need peace,” he stressed.
UDA nominated MCA Kamila Warsame echoed Losu’s sentiments, maintaining that Roba is the legitimate Isiolo Speaker.
Warsame said they would not be intimidated.
“As an MCA, I know what transpired. We cannot be sold fear. We are not leaders who can buy fear. I say today, tomorrow, and every day that Roba is the legitimate Speaker, and we make no apology for standing with him consistently,” Warsame said.
She explained that they had been using a portable Hansard with 95 per cent of the County Assembly of Isiolo’s staff supporting them after the assembly chambers were vandalised.
“The assembly has now been vandalised three times, beginning on June 18, 2025, up to Thursday. Only chairs remain in the assembly. We still have enough quorum to conduct our business,” Warsame said.
She added that they had never relocated the assembly.
Warsame urged her fellow MCAs not to be misused.
“Do not be misused. Come back to your senses. The people of Isiolo need your services,” Warsame said.
