Governor Guyo grilled by Senate, slapped with Sh500,000 fine for failing to honour summons

Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has been grilled by Senators after he finally appeared following multiple summons and fines.

Abdi, who claimed that he failed to honour the summons due to nationwide Gen-Z protests which could endanger his safety, was again slapped with a Sh500,000 fine for contempt.

In a stormy session before the Senate’s Finance and Budget Committee on Tuesday, the governor faced accusations from Senators who charged him with disrespecting the Senate and demonstrating contempt through his consistent absence from committee meetings.

During the session, Abdi attempted to explain why he did not attend the summons on August 8, 2024.

“Mr. Chairman, as you may recall, there were Gen-Z protests on that day, and my staff feared for their safety, which is why I could not attend,” he said.

However, the explanation did not satisfy committee members, led by the chair, Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki.

“The information you provided indicated that you had an investment conference in Isiolo. Now you’re saying it was due to Gen-Z protests,” Faki opposed, expressing skepticism about Abdi's reasons.

Although the Governor apologised for his frequent absences, he accused Senator Fatuma Dullo of attempting to politicise the Senate for her own gain.

“Fatuma is a liar par excellence. She cannot use the Senate to micromanage the affairs of the Isiolo County government,” the Governor protested.

These remarks further infuriated the Senators, leading to the imposition of an additional fine of Sh500,000 for contempt. The committee also discussed the possibility of inviting the Governor to appear before the Senate plenary to address his conduct.

Senator Boni Khalwale to Governor Guyo during the Senate Finance Committee session: We will not allow you to treat Isiolo as your private property or like a fiefdom. If you need to apologise, do so and subject yourself to oversight and accountability. If it's political… pic.twitter.com/xARhc7yGXj

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) October 22, 2024

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch criticised the Governor's attitude, stating, “There is a place for leaders who choose to be arrogant and who think that privilege is a right. Serving the people of Isiolo is a privilege; being a governor does not give you the right to speak down to Senators.”

Last week, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi condemned the Governor's actions and instructed the Inspector General to arrest him and present him before various Senate committees.

Kingi highlighted that under Article 125 of the Constitution, both Houses of Parliament and their committees hold the power to summon any person to provide evidence or information, with the same authority as the High Court.

He explained that section 18(1) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, grants Parliament the right to invite or summon individuals, and section 19 allows for fines or arrest in cases where summoned persons fail to appear without justification.

He also noted that the judicial system had affirmed the Senate's power to summon individuals, referencing the 2014 court ruling in International Legal Consultancy Group v Senate, where the court ruled that public officials must respect Senate summonses.

“It is not in doubt that the Senate is conferred with the powers to summon any person to appear before it to give evidence or to provide information, within its Constitutional and statutory mandate. The powers to summon by the Committees are equivalent to those of the High Court. In this same decision the court found that the constitutional power to summon must be respected by all public officials at all times,” he said.