Tag: Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo

  • INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: The Grand Heist of Isiolo County – How Nairobi Cartels Looted Millions During Impeachment Crisis

    INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: The Grand Heist of Isiolo County – How Nairobi Cartels Looted Millions During Impeachment Crisis

    Multiple sources allege that funds stolen during this period were used to grease palms in the Senate, ensuring the impeachment motion failed before it even gained traction.

    “Money moved fast and upwards,” a source close to the county treasury confided.

    A budget that never was

    Adding to the scandal is the revelation that a budget, never debated or passed by the Isiolo County Assembly, was mysteriously published by the Government Printer — a process that ordinarily requires legal authorization.

     

    “This didn’t happen by accident,” a local civil society activist said. “It happened because someone with powerful connections wanted it that way. This is the anatomy of corruption.”

     

    The fraudulent budget became the basis for the questionable disbursements.

     

    National government involvement?

     

    The most damning allegation, however, is the claim that top officials within the National Government received kickbacks from the stolen county funds.

    According to sources privy to the transactions, a cut of every major payment was sent to individuals in Nairobi, insulating the perpetrators from legal consequences.

     

    “It’s a cartel network — the county is just an ATM for powerful people,” said a senior Isiolo administrator who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.

     

    While elites feast, Isiolo residents continue to suffer from underdevelopment, lack of clean water, inadequate health services, and soaring unemployment.

    Mothers walk for kilometers in search of food and medicine, while county resources are diverted to enrich people who have never set foot in Isiolo.

     

    What next for Isiolo?

     

    Civil society organizations are now demanding a forensic audit of all county expenditures from the past year, and for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to initiate a full-scale investigation.

    But there is growing skepticism among locals that justice will ever be served.

     

    “Unless we confront the truth and name names, we will remain prisoners in our own county,” said Almamy Mohamed, a prominent Isiolo-based blogger and whistleblower who first exposed the scandal.

     

    Isiolo has become a crime scene in broad daylight, where public funds meant for development are hijacked by a sophisticated web of power, money, and impunity. Until the chains of silence and complicity are broken, the looting will continue and the people will continue to pay the price.

     

    If you have tips or documents related to this investigation, contact Kenya Insights via secure channels.

     

    At the height of the impeachment hearings, pro-Guyo allies dismissed critics as enemies of clan unity.

    But the very people chanting solidarity are now being forced to reckon with a stark truth: not a single firm that benefitted is registered in Isiolo.

    The real beneficiaries? Political operatives and faceless brokers operating out of Nairobi.

    Multiple sources allege that funds stolen during this period were used to grease palms in the Senate, ensuring the impeachment motion failed before it even gained traction.

    “Money moved fast and upwards,” a source close to the county treasury confided.

    A budget that never was

    Adding to the scandal is the revelation that a budget, never debated or passed by the Isiolo County Assembly, was mysteriously published by the Government Printer — a process that ordinarily requires legal authorization.

     

    “This didn’t happen by accident,” a local civil society activist said. “It happened because someone with powerful connections wanted it that way. This is the anatomy of corruption.”

     

    The fraudulent budget became the basis for the questionable disbursements.

     

    National government involvement?

     

    The most damning allegation, however, is the claim that top officials within the National Government received kickbacks from the stolen county funds.

    According to sources privy to the transactions, a cut of every major payment was sent to individuals in Nairobi, insulating the perpetrators from legal consequences.

     

    “It’s a cartel network — the county is just an ATM for powerful people,” said a senior Isiolo administrator who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.

     

    While elites feast, Isiolo residents continue to suffer from underdevelopment, lack of clean water, inadequate health services, and soaring unemployment.

    Mothers walk for kilometers in search of food and medicine, while county resources are diverted to enrich people who have never set foot in Isiolo.

     

    What next for Isiolo?

     

    Civil society organizations are now demanding a forensic audit of all county expenditures from the past year, and for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to initiate a full-scale investigation.

    But there is growing skepticism among locals that justice will ever be served.

     

    “Unless we confront the truth and name names, we will remain prisoners in our own county,” said Almamy Mohamed, a prominent Isiolo-based blogger and whistleblower who first exposed the scandal.

     

    Isiolo has become a crime scene in broad daylight, where public funds meant for development are hijacked by a sophisticated web of power, money, and impunity. Until the chains of silence and complicity are broken, the looting will continue and the people will continue to pay the price.

     

    If you have tips or documents related to this investigation, contact Kenya Insights via secure channels.

    Isiolo, Kenya – As political drama unfolded around the attempted impeachment of Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo earlier this year, behind the scenes, a more insidious operation was in full motion — a calculated and well-coordinated looting of Isiolo County’s public funds.

     

    Investigation by Kenya Insights, informed by whistleblower testimony and county financial records, reveals that over a dozen shadowy companies, none of them owned by Isiolo residents, received suspicious payments from county coffers during the tense weeks surrounding the impeachment process.

     

    The transactions, masked as legitimate payments for services and supplies, raise serious questions about collusion between high-ranking county officials, Nairobi-based contractors, and powerbrokers within the national government.

     

    The companies and their directors

     

    An analysis of payment records identifies 12 firms at the center of the financial scandal:

     

    Company Name

    Directors

    Amount Paid (KES)

    Karume Feeds Co. Ltd

    Said Mohamed Isaack, Hassan Ibrahim Khalif

    17,456,000.00

    Asmara Ventures Ltd

    Abdikadir Mohamed, Said Mohamed Isaack

    17,791,500.00

    Eckland Limited

    Yahya Ibrahim Khalif

    18,930,500.00

    Rafeeq Traders Ltd

    Leila Hassan Duale, Ann Kagwiria

    19,667,500.00

    Holwanag General Contractors Ltd

    Adan Hussein Ali, Fatima Ismail Haji

    5,320,000.00

    Furaha Conquest Ltd

    Ahmed Duale Osman

    5,600,000.00

    Somreed Limited

    Anthony Masha Kazungu

    18,503,500.00

    Rochester Limited

    Fatima Omar Abdille, Abdisalam Ibrahim Khalif

    18,542,000.00

    Habasha Feeds Ltd

    Hashim Mohamed Abdi

    19,510,000.00

    Abeba Company Ltd

    Hashim Mohamed Abdi, Fatima Abdikadir Hajo

    19,581,500.00

    Remmy Suppliers & Services Ltd

    Sally Jepchumba Lawatt

    17,796,418.90

     

    Total Paid to the 11 Companies Listed:

    KES 178,199,918.90

    These figures confirm the scale of public resource misuse during the impeachment period in Isiolo — nearly KES 180 million was transferred to firms with no visible ties to the county’s citizens.

     

    The Political Smoke Screen

     

    At the height of the impeachment hearings, pro-Guyo allies dismissed critics as enemies of clan unity.

    But the very people chanting solidarity are now being forced to reckon with a stark truth: not a single firm that benefitted is registered in Isiolo.

    The real beneficiaries? Political operatives and faceless brokers operating out of Nairobi.

    Multiple sources allege that funds stolen during this period were used to grease palms in the Senate, ensuring the impeachment motion failed before it even gained traction.

    “Money moved fast and upwards,” a source close to the county treasury confided.

    A budget that never was

    Adding to the scandal is the revelation that a budget, never debated or passed by the Isiolo County Assembly, was mysteriously published by the Government Printer — a process that ordinarily requires legal authorization.

     

    “This didn’t happen by accident,” a local civil society activist said. “It happened because someone with powerful connections wanted it that way. This is the anatomy of corruption.”

     

    The fraudulent budget became the basis for the questionable disbursements.

     

    National government involvement?

     

    The most damning allegation, however, is the claim that top officials within the National Government received kickbacks from the stolen county funds.

    According to sources privy to the transactions, a cut of every major payment was sent to individuals in Nairobi, insulating the perpetrators from legal consequences.

     

    “It’s a cartel network — the county is just an ATM for powerful people,” said a senior Isiolo administrator who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.

     

    While elites feast, Isiolo residents continue to suffer from underdevelopment, lack of clean water, inadequate health services, and soaring unemployment.

    Mothers walk for kilometers in search of food and medicine, while county resources are diverted to enrich people who have never set foot in Isiolo.

     

    What next for Isiolo?

     

    Civil society organizations are now demanding a forensic audit of all county expenditures from the past year, and for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to initiate a full-scale investigation.

    But there is growing skepticism among locals that justice will ever be served.

     

    “Unless we confront the truth and name names, we will remain prisoners in our own county,” said Almamy Mohamed, a prominent Isiolo-based blogger and whistleblower who first exposed the scandal.

     

    Isiolo has become a crime scene in broad daylight, where public funds meant for development are hijacked by a sophisticated web of power, money, and impunity. Until the chains of silence and complicity are broken, the looting will continue and the people will continue to pay the price.

     

    If you have tips or documents related to this investigation, contact Kenya Insights via secure channels.

  • Impeachment: Guyo’s Impunity and Arrogance Towards Senators Comes to Bite as He Comes Face to Face With Them

    Impeachment: Guyo’s Impunity and Arrogance Towards Senators Comes to Bite as He Comes Face to Face With Them

    A defiant governor who repeatedly snubbed Senate committees now faces the consequences of his contemptuous conduct

    The chickens have finally come home to roost for Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo, whose brazen defiance of Senate authority has culminated in an impeachment trial that threatens to end his political career.

    As Speaker Amason Kingi schedules a special plenary session for July 8-9 to hear impeachment charges, the embattled governor finds himself in the unenviable position of defending his actions before the very institution he has repeatedly disrespected.

    A Pattern of Contempt

    Governor Guyo’s troubled relationship with the Senate reads like a masterclass in political self-destruction. Over his three-year tenure, he has systematically snubbed Senate committees, ignored summons, and displayed what can only be described as institutional contempt.

    When the powerful County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) visited Isiolo last year, Guyo was conspicuously absent.

    Not only did he fail to appear, but he allegedly directed senior staff to leave and locked senators out of the county headquarters entirely.

    The committee’s response was swift and damning, declaring Isiolo County “a crime scene.”

    Rather than showing contrition, Guyo doubled down on his defiance.

    At a public function shortly after the CPAC visit, he brazenly declared that he had “discretion on whether or not to honour senate summons” – a statement that would prove prophetic in sealing his fate.

    The Cost of Arrogance

    Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo appearing before the parliamentary committee.
    Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo appearing before the parliamentary committee.

    The governor’s contemptuous attitude has come at a significant financial and political cost.

    He has been fined Sh500,000 twice – once by the County Public Accounts Committee and again by the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare – for ignoring summons.

    The Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act has been invoked against him, with the Inspector General of Police directed to arrest and present him before committees.

    Senator Boni Khalwale’s prescient warning during a Finance and Budget Committee meeting in October 2024 now appears prophetic: “Do you appreciate the fact that this Senate holds your fate in its hands? The level of impunity that you have demonstrated towards the Senate will fall on you as governor.”

    Guyo’s problems extend beyond mere procedural violations.

    His conduct has been marked by personal attacks on senators, including alleged sexist remarks against Senator Fatuma Dullo during Madaraka Day celebrations.

    His confrontational exchanges with senators have been characterized by inflammatory rhetoric, including telling Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina to “take your threats to Narok.”

    The impeachment charges paint a picture of a governor who has treated his office as personal property.

    He stands accused of employing a bloated workforce, including 36 advisors when the legal limit is three, and 31 chief officers for a county with only six departments.

    More damning, he has failed to deliver the constitutionally mandated Annual State of the County Address for three consecutive years.

    The Reckoning

    As the Isiolo County Assembly voted overwhelmingly to impeach him – with only two of 18 members declining to endorse the charges – Guyo’s fate now rests with the same senators he has spent years antagonizing.

    The charges include gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

    Speaker Kingi’s communication to the House captured the gravity of Guyo’s conduct: “The conduct of the governor not only undermines the rule of law but obstructs the Senate from discharging its role as the protector of counties under Article 96(1) of the Constitution.”

    A Weakened Position

    As Guyo prepares his defense, he does so from a position of unprecedented weakness.

    His repeated no-shows, contemptuous remarks, and institutional defiance have eroded any goodwill he might have enjoyed among senators.

    The very people who will decide his political fate are those he has spent years treating with disdain.

    The irony is palpable: a governor who declared he had “discretion” over Senate summons now finds himself compelled to appear before senators whose authority he repeatedly questioned.

    His political survival depends entirely on the mercy of an institution he has systematically undermined.

    When the Senate convenes next week, it will be more than just an impeachment trial – it will be a reckoning for a governor whose arrogance and impunity have finally caught up with him.

    The residents of Isiolo, who celebrated in the streets following his impeachment, seem to have already rendered their verdict.

    For Abdi Guyo, the man who once dared senators to act against him, the moment of truth has arrived.

    His political future now depends on the very constitutional process he spent years trying to subvert. In the end, his greatest enemy may prove to be his own hubris.

    The Senate plenary session begins Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 2:30 PM.

  • Isiolo MCAs In Hiding After Impeachment Motion As Executive Found Abducted

    Isiolo MCAs In Hiding After Impeachment Motion As Executive Found Abducted

    ISIOLO COUNTY – A dangerous escalation in Isiolo County’s political crisis has forced 16 out of 18 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) into hiding after they tabled an impeachment motion against Governor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan Guyo, with claims of intimidation, abduction, and threats to their lives now overshadowing the constitutional process.

    The political standoff took a sinister turn when a former county Chief Executive Committee member, Abdi Rahman, was allegedly abducted and found severely injured and abandoned in Ruiru, Nairobi County, sparking fears among the MCAs that their lives are in imminent danger.

    Climate of Fear and Intimidation

    The MCAs switched off their phones and retreated to an undisclosed location immediately after the impeachment motion was presented during a heavily guarded County Assembly session last Tuesday. Speaking to the media on Friday, the legislators painted a picture of a county gripped by political violence and intimidation.

    “We were trailed by armed individuals at 3 am until we reached our destination. One of our supporters was abducted, beaten and dumped in the bush. We shall not be intimidated from fulfilling our constitutional duty,” recounted Burat MCA Nicholas Lorot, describing their harrowing journey from Nakuru to Machakos as they fled to safety.

    Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba pointed fingers at top county officials, accusing them of orchestrating the threats and harassment campaign against the MCAs.

    Abduction and Assault

    Abdirahman Mohamed, the immediate Isiolo County Chief Officer for Health who was abducted, has been found badly injured and abandoned in Ruai, Kiambu.
    Abdirahman Mohamed, the immediate Isiolo County Chief Officer for Health who was abducted, has been found badly injured and abandoned in Ruai, Kiambu.

    The gravity of the situation became apparent when the MCAs visited the hospitalized former county executive at a Nairobi health facility. The official was found abandoned approximately 20 kilometers from Ruai with multiple fractures after what appears to have been a brutal assault.

    “He was found some twenty kilometres away from Ruai. I think they threw him there thinking that he was dead. God is great; he is not dead. He had multiple fractures,” said one of the MCAs, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

    National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) Chairperson Rehema Jaldessa condemned the incident in the strongest terms, describing it as “heinous goonism, intimidation, and abduction.”

    Serious Charges Against Governor

    The impeachment motion, moved by Garbatulla MCA Abubakar Godana, is supported by 15 documents including reports from the Auditor-General, County Assembly records, Hansards, budgetary documents, and video footage of the governor’s public addresses.

    Governor Guyo faces three main charges:

    Abuse of Office: The governor is accused of appointing 36 advisors and 31 chief officers despite Isiolo County receiving the third-lowest budget allocation nationally. This contradicts the Salaries and Remuneration Commission circular limiting advisors to four individuals and violates principles of prudent resource management under the Public Finance Management Act.

    Gross Misconduct: The motion cites the governor’s failure to implement County Assembly resolutions, resulting in ballooning county debt, an ineffective County Treasury, and massive loss of public funds. He is also accused of making “disrespectful, demeaning and sexist remarks” directed at Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.

    Gross Violation of the Constitution: The governor stands accused of using divisive language that threatens peaceful coexistence among communities, violating the National Cohesion and Integration Act, and being largely absent from office while allegedly running county affairs from Nairobi.

    The impeachment motion comes amid an ongoing feud between Governor Guyo and Senator Fatuma Dullo, both elected on the Jubilee Party ticket in 2022. Senator Dullo recently alleged on the Senate floor that a meeting was held on October 30, 2024, where county government employees allegedly discussed plans for her assassination.

    “This conversation allegedly included plans for my assassination, posing a very real and serious threat to my life,” Senator Dullo told the Senate, adding that she has reported the threats to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

    Constitutional Process Under Threat

    Despite the intimidation, the County Assembly has pressed ahead with the constitutional process. Public participation forums are scheduled for Wednesday across all 10 wards, with the impeachment debate set for Friday. However, the climate of fear has raised questions about whether democracy can function under such circumstances.

    “This indicates the extent of criminality and poor leadership plaguing Isiolo. We condemn the rising political intolerance and call for sobriety among top leaders,” Speaker Roba said.

    While all 18 MCAs initially backed the impeachment motion, two are reported to have switched allegiance to Governor Guyo’s side, possibly under pressure.

    Local elders and a section of residents have appealed for mediation as an alternative to impeachment, blaming the escalating tensions on external forces. Samburu Council of Elders Chairperson Joyce Nairisiae and Secretary General of the Somali Council of Elders Idle Hassan have called for dialogue and a non-confrontational resolution.

    However, the MCAs remain resolute despite the dangers they face. Ngaremara MCA Peter Losu stated they would be cautious when traveling back for Friday’s debate but affirmed their commitment to their constitutional duties.

    “We have recorded statements with the police and hope action will be taken. Regardless, we will perform our duties as per the law without fear or intimidation,” he declared.

    https://youtu.be/jhZwt7vzvYM?si=TXSo1hyIRjfGjgTP

    The Isiolo crisis represents more than a local political dispute—it’s a test of Kenya’s devolved governance system and the rule of law. If elected officials can be intimidated, abducted, and assaulted for exercising their constitutional oversight role, it undermines the very foundation of democratic accountability.

    As the County Assembly prepares for public participation and the crucial Friday debate, all eyes will be on whether the constitutional process can proceed safely and fairly, or whether political violence will succeed in derailing democracy in Isiolo County.

    The outcome of this impeachment motion will likely set a precedent for how Kenya handles similar crises in its devolved government system, making it a case of national significance beyond the borders of Isiolo County.

  • Isiolo Governor Guyo Faces Impeachment as All 17 MCAs Sign Removal Petition

    Isiolo Governor Guyo Faces Impeachment as All 17 MCAs Sign Removal Petition

    ISIOLO, Kenya – Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo is staring at the possibility of becoming the latest county chief to be ousted from office after all 17 Members of the County Assembly unanimously signed a petition seeking his removal from office.

    The impeachment motion, tabled on Monday evening, is scheduled for debate next Tuesday as the county assembly moves to address what legislators describe as failed leadership and gross misconduct by the governor.

    The impeachment push has gained momentum following widespread condemnation of Governor Guyo’s controversial remarks against Senator Fatuma Dullo during Madaraka Day celebrations at Oldonyiro.

    The governor made sexually suggestive and disparaging comments about the senator’s personal life while dismissing her calls for accountability in county spending.

    “I want to tell Senator Fatuma, you have set an expensive lifestyle of having relationships with young men, deal with your situation. Isiolo money is for development, not for sustaining young men,” Guyo said during the public event.

    The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has strongly condemned the remarks, with Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa describing them as “degrading and unconstitutional.”

    “These statements are unbecoming of a public officer and offend the spirit and letter of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity,” Jaldesa stated. “They humiliate, degrade and intimidate women in leadership and public service.”

    Beyond the gender-based controversy, the governor is also facing scrutiny over a leaked county payroll that revealed over 1,600 employees, raising serious concerns about ghost workers and nepotism in the county government.

    “A glance at the county executive payroll has revealed unpleasant happenings where laws on recruitment have been thrown out of the window and replaced with jungle law where the governor calls the shots,” said Burat MCA Nicholas Lorot.

    The revelation has intensified calls for accountability, with legislators arguing that the county’s hiring practices have been compromised under Guyo’s leadership.

    The governor’s sexist tirade has sparked outrage among women leaders across the country, with many calling for legal action and sanctions.

    The Kenya Women Senators Association (Kewosa) has demanded that Guyo be declared unfit to hold office under Chapter Six of the Constitution.

    “This is a blatant attempt to frustrate, demean and intimidate Senator Dullo and it must be called out for what it is,” said Kewosa chair Veronica Maina

    “These remarks perpetuate dangerous stereotypes with the aim of discouraging women’s participation in public life.”

    Local women leaders, led by Asmai Hamo, have vowed to boycott all official meetings with the governor until he issues a public apology and have threatened legal action if he fails to retract his statements.

    The impeachment motion comes at a time when Governor Guyo’s administration is under intense pressure from multiple fronts.

    Senator Dullo has been a vocal critic of the county government, particularly over alleged misappropriation of funds and corruption.

    The tension between the two leaders reached a boiling point during a recent Senate County Public Accounts Committee meeting, where Dullo accused Guyo of lying under oath about the number of advisers in the county.

    “We have given the governor enough time to deliver for the people of Isiolo. However, he has failed on his mandate, and as the oversight body, we have come out to call out this administration,” said Cherab MCA Halima Abgudho.

    While County Secretary Dadhe Boru has dismissed the payroll leak as “politically motivated,” he confirmed that investigations are ongoing to verify the authenticity of the document.

    Deputy Governor James Lowasa has also defended the administration, but the unified stance of all 17 MCAs suggests that Guyo’s political survival hangs in the balance.

    The impeachment debate scheduled for Tuesday will be a crucial test of whether the governor can survive the mounting pressure or join the growing list of county chiefs removed from office by their assemblies.

    For the motion to succeed, it requires the support of two-thirds of the assembly members – a threshold that appears easily achievable given that all 17 MCAs have already signed the petition.

    The developments in Isiolo highlight the ongoing challenges facing devolved government in Kenya, where issues of accountability, governance, and gender equality continue to dominate political discourse at the county level.

  • Unlawful Employment: Isiolo Governor Guyo Exposed For Hiring 36 Advisors, Highest in Kenya

    Unlawful Employment: Isiolo Governor Guyo Exposed For Hiring 36 Advisors, Highest in Kenya

    Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo is on the spot for creating unlawful employment positions after hiring 36 advisors, the highest in the country.

    The appointments are against the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) recommendation of four.

    According to a report tabled before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, the Auditor General established that 47 per cent of the county budget is spent on wages, denying the residents of Isiolo services and development.

    Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo appearing before the parliamentary committee.
    Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo appearing before the parliamentary committee.

    Governor Guyo was also questioned over the hiring of 31 chief officers, exceeding the approved number of 18.

    It was further revealed that each County Executive Committee member had five chief officers, each earning a monthly salary of Ksh255,000.

    The Auditor General had raised 35 issues regarding the Financial Statements of Isiolo County Government for the Financial Year 2023/2024. The county Government has since responded to 18 of the 17 charges.

    The session was also temporarily halted after the county boss who denied all the allegations was locked in a war of words with the county senator, Fatuma Dullo.

    The committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, has recommended that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigate a contract for the development of the Isiolo County spatial plan amounting to Ksh98.5 million, shunning the lowest bidder who had quoted Ksh62.1 million.

    The lowest bidder was disqualified because the quotation was low and they would potentially fail to deliver the contract.

    The county boss was fined Ksh500,000 for failing to appear before various senate committees on several occasions.

  • President Ruto Forced To Cut Short Isiolo Visit After ‘Ruto Must Go Chants’ By Residents

    President Ruto Forced To Cut Short Isiolo Visit After ‘Ruto Must Go Chants’ By Residents

    On Thursday, February 6, 2025, President William Ruto’s visit to Isiolo County was abruptly cut short due to persistent heckling from residents during the groundbreaking ceremony for the County Aggregation and Industrial Park project.

    The tension escalated when attendees began chanting “Ruto must go” following an address by Isiolo MP Bonaya Mumina Gollo. 

    In an attempt to calm the situation, Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo urged the crowd to respect the president, stating, “Today is the President’s day; let’s give him respect. Let’s listen to all leaders. Those who are used to organizing heckling, you will not return to heckling in Isiolo. Do we understand each other?” 

    The unrest intensified when Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo attempted to address the gathering but was met with heckles, preventing her from speaking. She pleaded with the crowd, saying, “Let us not throw stones.” 

    In response to the hostile reception, President Ruto accused drug traffickers of orchestrating the protests as retaliation against his administration’s crackdown on narcotics in the region.

    He asserted, “We’ve been having problems in Isiolo and Marsabit with people from other countries bringing drugs here and selling them to our children. Let me be clear – we will deport these drug dealers.” He further warned, “I hear these drug dealers have brought youth to heckle us here. Listen carefully, young people – you cannot intimidate the Kenyan government.” 

    Despite the disruptions, President Ruto remained resolute, vowing to continue with development projects in the region. He stated firmly, “Take your threats elsewhere. I will build Isiolo.”

    However, as he attempted to introduce his allies, the crowd’s dissatisfaction grew, with residents waving their hands and continuing their chants.

    Ultimately, the president was compelled to end his speech prematurely, remarking, “You have fierce competition here,” before departing the event. 

    This incident in Isiolo reflects ongoing tensions and public sentiment against Ruto’s policies or administration, as evidenced by similar anti-government sentiments expressed in various parts of the country through social media posts and local protests. The “Ruto must go” chants have been a recurring theme in several regions, highlighting significant public unrest and dissatisfaction with the current government’s actions or perceived failures.

  • Isiolo Senator Dullo Claims Plot To Assassinate Her Over Feud With Governor Guyo

    Isiolo Senator Dullo Claims Plot To Assassinate Her Over Feud With Governor Guyo

    The political war between Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and Senator Fatuma Dullo has escalated with the latter now alleging a plot to assassinate her.

    The two leaders have been at loggerheads over the running of the county government despite being elected on the Jubilee Party ticket in the 2022 elections.

    Senator Dullo has taken the governor to task over the running of the county, making numerous statements to this effect in the Senate.

    From questions about alleged irregular recruitments, the sorry state of the health function to the expenditure of county funds and the status of pending bills.

    However, Governor Guyo has always denied the allegations, accusing the senator of a political witch hunt.

    Nonetheless, the latest development has added a new twist to the political battle, with Ms Dullo reporting threats to her life.

    Speaking on the floor of the Senate, the lawmaker said a meeting was held on October 30, 2024, attended by 10 county government employees, where discussions centred on planning an attempt on her life.

    The senator said she has since reported the threats to her life to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

    “This conversation allegedly included plans for my assassination, posing a very real and serious threat to my life. I am, therefore, deeply concerned for my well-being,” said Ms Dullo.

    “I would like to state categorically that should anything happen to me, my family, my employees or my supporters, the county government of Isiolo must be held accountable.”

    She added that her county office was recently broken into and items stolen under suspicious circumstances.

    In addition, the legislator claimed that her staff and supporters have also been subjected to constant harassment, including confrontation by hired thugs and repeated summons by security agencies in Isiolo to intimidate and discourage them from supporting her work.

    The third term senator revealed that she has credible information of plans to prevent her from accessing the county.

    “These acts not only undermine my work but raises questions about the lengths certain individuals are willing to go to hinder my office operations,” said Ms Dullo.

    When contacted for comment, Governor Guyo said: “Let her (Dullo) report to the DCI to investigate instead of using the floor of the House to propagate lies.”

    Migori Senator Eddy Oketch called on his colleagues to suspend the activities of the House because one of them was being threatened for exercising her oversight role.

    He argued that if a senator is being threatened by a governor, then the entire house is under threat.

    “The threat that has been channelled towards the Senator of Isiolo is something that we must all speak to. Today, the county assemblies have all closed across the country for 14 days until the missing Member of the County Assemblies (MCAs) is produced,” said Mr Oketch.

    “What is happening in Isiolo County is long overdue for us to bring the governor of Isiolo County to this House and question him on why he is a hindrance to devolution when senators are fighting to protect devolution.”

    In her latest statement before the House, Senator Dullo wants the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds in the county government.

    She said that the probe should focus on allegations of discrepancies in the remuneration of the staffers and presence of ghost workers in the payroll.

    The investigations should look into the county’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database (IPPD) and provide the list of staff, both permanent and casual, as captured in the IPPD system, indicating their terms of engagement, including when they were recruited and when their details were recorded in the system.

    “The committee should provide detailed information to ascertain the circumstances under which the County Executive continues to pay salaries using manual processes instead of the recognised, verified IPPD system, hence misappropriating funds,” she said.

    On the issue of bursaries, Ms Dullo wants the Education Committee to investigate their allocation and look into the criteria used to select and qualify applications, including how the county prioritises applicants and ensures a transparent and fair process.

    The committee, chaired by Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, should further delve into the details of the total bursary funds allocated by the county government for the 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years, as well as a list of beneficiaries during the three fiscal years.

    “The committee should explain the criteria used to allocate bursaries and whether the county government has a mechanism in place to ensure that the children from poor backgrounds benefit from the same and also provide how bursaries are allocated from grassroots up to the county level,” she said.