Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan, also known as Guyo, is facing arrest alongside seven others following a directive from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), allegations he has dismissed as baseless and politically motivated.
The ODPP said the decision followed an independent review of a file submitted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
In a statement dated September 5, 2025, the ODPP announced that the Governor and his co-suspects will be charged with kidnapping with intent to cause grievous harm and robbery with violence.
The ODPP said the inquiry file had been forwarded to its Machakos office on June 19, 2025, before being referred to the headquarters in Nairobi due to public interest. After review, the ODPP said evidence placed the Governor and seven others at the centre of the incident.
According to the ODPP, on the material day, a former Isiolo County Chief Officer of Health was with 15 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who allegedly supported the Governor’s impeachment. They had convened at a hotel in Maanzoni, Machakos County.
The ODPP alleged the Governor later arrived with his supporters. “Acting on his instructions, they forcibly disarmed and attacked the ex-Chief Officer of Health. He was bundled into a vehicle and kidnapped,” the ODPP alleged in a statement.
The ODPP further claimed that the ex-Chief Officer of Health was threatened, blindfolded, beaten, and later abandoned in the Ruai Sewage area. During the incident, the ODPP said he lost a licensed Glock pistol with 15 rounds, an iPhone 16, Sh70,000 in cash, and other personal belongings.
CCTV footage from the hotel allegedly placed the Governor and seven individuals at the scene.
The ODPP said it had directed the DCI to apprehend and arraign all suspects. “The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions remains committed to executing its constitutional mandate in accordance with the law, public interest and administration of justice,” the statement concluded.
Governor Guyo, however, issued a firm rebuttal. In a press statement released the same day, he dismissed the allegations as “baseless, politically motivated, and clearly intended to intimidate and silence us.”
"The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) issued a statement calling for my arrest alongside seven others over allegations of kidnapping with intent to cause grievous harm and robbery with violence. I wish to make it clear that these allegations are baseless, politically motivated, and clearly intended to intimidate and silence us," Guyo said in a statement.
He added that he has never been arrested or linked to criminal activity. “Having been raised as an orphan, I have always conducted myself with dignity, respect for the rule of law, and dedication to serving the people of Isiolo,” Guyo said.
The Governor also pointed to an anticipatory order issued by the Kiambu Law Courts on August 27, 2025, which restrained the ODPP and DCI from arresting or harassing him and his colleagues until the matter is heard and determined.
“I therefore, call upon my supporters and the people of Isiolo to remain calm and steadfast,” he stated.
Guyo insisted he will continue to discharge his mandate. “No smear campaign will derail our collective progress,” he said.
