Hon. Mustafa Abdirashid Ahmed MCA Iftin and current Deputy Speaker of Garissa County Assembly./COURTERSY
Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo’s removal from office signals a shift in Northern Kenya’s political culture from clan-based power-sharing to performance-based leadership.
The recent impeachment by the County Assembly of Isiolo has sent shockwaves across Northern Kenya.
It is not just a political tremor in one county, but a warning bell that echoes through the corridors of every governor’s office in the region.
For the first time in recent memory, a governor elected under the intricate and often delicate system of negotiated democracy has been brought to book by elected representatives from his own county.
This development is significant, not only for Isiolo but for the broader political culture that has defined Northern Kenya since the advent of devolution.
It raises crucial questions about accountability, performance, and the future of a political system that has prioritised clan balance over good governance.
The charges and the political climate
Governor Guyo’s impeachment was rooted in allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and financial mismanagement.
The County Assembly, citing specific breaches of the Public Finance Management Act, and the County Governments Act moved with rare unity to initiate and pass the motion.
Whether the Senate upholds or overturns the impeachment, the signal is already clear; county assemblies are becoming more assertive, and political immunity can no longer be guaranteed by clan endorsement alone.
This is especially important in a region where negotiated democracy, an arrangement where clan elders and elites distribute elective seats among themselves to avoid competition has long insulated elected leaders from real public scrutiny.
The unwritten social contract has always been; deliver peace and representation, and your performance in office is secondary. That contract is now under review.
A shift in political accountability
The impeachment speaks volumes about the changing dynamics of leadership and accountability in the North.
Isiolo’s MCAs, in taking such a bold step, have demonstrated that oversight is not just a constitutional duty, it is a political imperative.
The action breaks a long-standing tradition of silence, where governors were seldom challenged due to the fear of upsetting clan hierarchies or triggering inter-communal discord.
This may mark the beginning of a new political culture, one where the elected are held to the same standards of transparency and delivery as anywhere else in the country.
If a county assembly in Isiolo, with its fragile ethnic composition and history of negotiated leadership, can unite to take such decisive action, then it becomes possible for assemblies in Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, and even Tana River to do the same.
Implications for negotiated democracy
For all its faults, negotiated democracy was born out of a genuine need to prevent ethnic-based electoral violence and ensure representation across communities.
In the absence of national political parties with deep grassroots reach, clan elders took on the responsibility of maintaining peace and order by apportioning political seats.
However, what began as a peace-building mechanism has, over time, become a tool for elite entrenchment.
Leaders chosen through this system often feel more accountable to the elders who endorsed them than to the people who voted.
It has shielded poor performance, tolerated impunity, and encouraged a dangerous sense of entitlement among officeholders.
Governor Guyo’s impeachment disrupts this trend.
It suggests that even within a negotiated democracy framework, governance and delivery are now critical components of leadership.
It affirms that endorsement from elders is no longer a blank cheque, leaders will be questioned, challenged, and, if necessary, removed for failing in their duties.
Public sentiment and democratic maturity
One cannot ignore the role of public awareness in this shift.
Citizens across the North are increasingly exposed to civic education, social media, and independent media.
Youth groups, civil society actors, and local professionals are demanding more from their leaders.
The electorate is no longer satisfied with symbolic leadership or clan arithmetic. They want service delivery, transparency, and integrity.
In this context, Guyo’s impeachment serves not as a political coup, but as a product of rising democratic expectations.
It signals a maturing electorate, one that is willing to challenge the status quo and hold leaders accountable, regardless of clan affiliation.
A word of caution: The risks ahead
While the impeachment has been widely lauded as a step forward, it is not without risks.
Some actors may interpret it as a violation of negotiated agreements, potentially fueling clan-based resentment.
Political brokers may frame it as a targeted attack rather than a legitimate constitutional process.
If not carefully managed, such perceptions could erode public trust in institutions and undermine the progress made.
Moreover, there is a danger that assemblies might begin to misuse impeachment powers for political vendettas.
Checks and balances must therefore be applied consistently, transparently, and without prejudice.
Impeachment should never become a tool for settling scores but must remain a last resort in cases of demonstrable failure.
A wake-up call to the North
The impeachment of Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo is more than just a local event, it is a landmark moment in the evolution of governance in Northern Kenya.
It challenges deeply rooted political traditions and redefines the meaning of leadership in a region long dominated by clan loyalties and negotiated positions.
For sitting governors and aspiring leaders, the message is clear; legitimacy is no longer drawn solely from clan endorsement.
The era of blind loyalty is fading. The people demand results. They are watching, they are aware, and they are ready to act.
This new political awakening if sustained, can transform Northern Kenya from a region of marginalisation and elite manipulation into one of democratic resilience, where leaders serve not because they were chosen by elders, but because they earned the trust of the people through service.
The writer is the MCA Iftin Ward and the current Deputy Speaker of Garissa County Assembly
