Isiolo County Assembly Speaker arraigned over alleged misuse of government vehicles

Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba Koto has been arraigned at the Mavoko Law Courts following his arrest in Nairobi.

According to the charge sheet, Mohamed faces two counts, including the unlawful use of government vehicles by converting them for personal use between July 18 and August 19, 2025, and obstruction of a police officer in the execution of duty after allegedly mobilising people to block the repossession of the vehicle.

Roba was arrested at around 9:00 pm along Thika Road in Ruaraka while travelling from Isiolo to Nairobi.

He was held overnight at Ruaraka Police Station before being transferred to Athi River Police Station, where his case was virtually mentioned. The matter was later adjourned after his lawyers requested that the case be heard in open court.

The charge sheet, stamped by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), lists the County Government of Isiolo as the complainant.

In the first count, Roba is accused of unlawful use of a vehicle, contrary to Section 294 of the Penal Code.

“On the diverse dates between 18th July 2025 and 19th August 2025 at Syokimau town, in Athi River East Sub-county of Machakos County, you unlawfully and without colour of right converted to your use motor vehicles, registration numbers 11CG 002A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TXL and 11CG 068A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VXL, both of which are the property of the County Government of Isiolo,” reads the charge sheet.

The second count alleges that on July 20, 2025, at Syokimau, Roba willfully obstructed Chief Inspector Ali Sheikh Mohamed from repossessing one of the vehicles by mobilising people to prevent the action, an offence under Section 103(1) of the National Police Service Act.

The ODPP approved Roba’s arrest and prosecution through a letter dated August 1, 2025, addressed to the Embu-based Regional Criminal Investigations Officer (RCIO).

Witnesses listed to testify include Isiolo County Assembly Clerk Salad Boru Guracha, CI Mohammed Sheikh, SSGT Kitheka, CPL Jason Simiyu, CI David Mwaniki, and PC Bernadette Mbithe, among others.

The case comes amid ongoing leadership disputes within the Isiolo County Assembly.

Roba will now spend his second night in police custody after he was presented to court, but never took a plea.

The court sitting in Mavoko, Machakos County, directed that Roba be held at Athi River Police Station and be presented in court on Thursday for further directions.

This followed a request by his defence team, which urged Senior Principal Magistrate Derrick Kuto to defer his plea-taking, arguing that the charge sheet was defective. The prosecution opposed the application, insisting the charges were valid.

However, the state later conceded that plea-taking could be deferred, not on grounds of a defective charge sheet, but to allow time to verify the documents filed.

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Magistrate Kuto briefly excused himself from the open court to make his decision in chambers before returning to issue directions.

“I will retire and return to give directions. I will alert you on the directions I will give,” he said.

When he resumed, the magistrate ordered that Roba remain in custody at Athi River Police Station until Thursday, when the court would issue a ruling.

“It’s 15.14 hours, and my direction reads, the rival detailed and deep submissions raised serious constitutional and validity issues that the court needs to address its mind on. Without more, the matter equally raises notable public interest issues. To this end, I schedule a ruling for tomorrow, August at 11 am,” Kuto ruled.

“The accused person will remain at Athi River Police Station until then. His counsels be allowed to have access to him as so ordered.”