Kingi warns Isiolo governor to rebuild trust, not celebrate, after Senate impeachment reprieve

Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo during his appearance before the Senate for the hearing of his impeachment motion on July 8, 2025. (Photo: Parliament of Kenya)

By Lucy Mumbi
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Kingi urged the governor to treat the development as a second chance, advising him to resist the temptation to chest-thump and instead prioritise reconciliation with Isiolo’s political leadership.

Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has been cautioned against celebrating the dismissal of his impeachment case, with Senate Speaker Amason Kingi warning that the reprieve should not be mistaken for a victory.

Speaking during Tuesday’s Senate session, Kingi urged the governor to treat the development as a second chance, advising him to resist the temptation to chest-thump and instead prioritise reconciliation with Isiolo’s political leadership.

More To Read

“Now to the governor, let me offer you unsolicited advice. This is not a win, and, therefore, the Senate does not expect you to go out there chest-thumping,” Kingi said.

“This is a postponement of your case. It is a postponement of your hearing. Now, depending on how you’re going to carry yourself from today going forward, that case may never be heard. Similarly, depending on how you’re going to behave out there, your case may be back here in a matter of days. It’s up to you.”

Mend political divisions

Kingi noted that the Senate’s decision followed preliminary arguments which pointed to deep-seated issues within Isiolo’s leadership structure. He urged the governor to focus on mending political divisions rather than celebrating the reprieve.

“From the little that we’ve gathered through this preliminary objection, clearly, there are cracks on the walls of Isiolo County. If I were you, I’d go mend those cracks. I would not bring down the walls of Isiolo County, because that is the big fear expressed by the Senator for Isiolo County,” he said.

He also advised the governor to mend his relationship with both Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo and the County Assembly, even if it required third-party intervention.

“We expect, as the leadership, as the top leader in Isiolo County, you need to have a sitting with your Senator, even if it’s through a third party. As the top leader in Isiolo County, you need to mend your relationship with the County Assembly, even if it means through a third party,” he said.

“This is advice you may take or leave, but the consequences are there.”

The Senate dismissed the charges brought against Governor Abdi by the County Assembly, citing procedural irregularities.

The Senate upheld preliminary objections raised by the governor’s legal team, which argued that the County Assembly had failed to conduct a valid impeachment process.

Senators also noted that a court order barring the proceedings had been ignored.

During the vote, 31 elected senators representing county delegations supported the motion to uphold the objection, effectively ending the impeachment process. Twelve senators opposed the motion, while none abstained.

Kingi reiterated that the Senate had made it clear that if the preliminary objection concerning whether the Isiolo County Assembly validly sat on June 18 and June 26, 2025, was upheld, then the impeachment would be automatically terminated.