Isiolo Governor's impeachment proceedings halted by high court

Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has received a temporary reprieve after the High Court in Isiolo issued a conservatory order halting his impeachment proceedings, pending the hearing and determination of a case he filed. 

The ruling, delivered by Justice Heston Nyaga, prevents Members of the County Assembly from "admitting, processing, debating or considering" the impeachment motion that was tabled on June 10.

The MCAs had been set to debate the motion on Tuesday, June 17, but Justice Nyaga's directive has brought a halt to these immediate plans. Governor Guyo had moved to court, suing the county assembly and the Speaker, seeking to challenge the impeachment process.

In his ruling, Justice Nyaga emphasized the need for due process, directing that Governor Guyo be furnished with a copy of the Notice of Motion for Impeachment, along with all supporting documents, within 48 hours of service of the order. 

The respondents, primarily the county assembly and its Speaker, have been granted seven days to file their responses to the Governor's petition. The Governor will then have three days to file any supplementary affidavits after receiving the responses.

The impeachment motion, tabled by Sericho MCA Abubakar Godana, reportedly garnered the unanimous support of all 18 MCAs. 

The grounds for impeachment, though not fully detailed in the court's public orders, are understood to include allegations of gross misconduct, violation of the Constitution and various laws, and abuse of office.

Specific accusations that have emerged publicly include gross misconduct, violation of Chapter Six of the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act, and the Public Officers Ethics Act. 

Guyo has also been accused of presiding over numerous stalled development projects, failing to meet county revenue targets, and issuing two-year contracts to chief officers, allegedly creating an "environment of fear and uncertainty." Furthermore, there are claims he failed to renew the contracts of 20 chief officers, instead renewing five through a questionable process.

The political tensions in Isiolo have been visibly high, with reports of some MCAs who backed the motion going into hiding, citing fears for their safety. There have also been allegations of intimidation, including the purported abduction and injury of a former county chief executive officer.

For now, the High Court's intervention provides a crucial pause in the impeachment saga, shifting the battleground from the county assembly floor to the judicial chambers. 

The upcoming hearings will determine the legal validity of the impeachment process and the fate of Governor Abdi Guyo's tenure.