For two months now, the Isiolo County Assembly has been operating with two parallel Speakers and clerks—each claiming legitimacy and authority.
What began as an attempt by MCAs to cure governance illegalities through the impeachment of Governor Abdi Guyo has since degenerated into a bitter political standoff. The feud has turned Isiolo into a theatre of chaos, pushing the county government to the brink of dysfunction.
Since last week, the two rival assemblies have been holding parallel sittings each striving to outdo the other.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo (left) with his legal counsel Eric Theuri before the Senate Nairobi on July 8, 2025 during his impeachment hearing.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
One faction, led by substantive Speaker Mohamed Roba Qoto and acting Clerk Yussuf Haji, continues to operate from the County headquarters in Isiolo town. The other, fronted by substantive Clerk Salad Boru and Speaker Abdullahi Banticha, has pitched tent in Oldonyiro town, 100 kilometers away, in what they call Bunge Mashinani.
It is unclear how the Oldonyiro Assembly acquired its own mace, the official symbol of authority.
Mr Banticha who was serving as Finance executive before being controversially ‘elected’ Speaker claims legitimacy after Deputy Speaker David Lemantile reportedly gazetted the relocation of the chambers from Isiolo town.
Their first sitting took place on August 27, 2025, the same day the official County Assembly chambers were vandalised and left in ruins.
Mr Banticha and three others have since been arrested and arraigned in connection with the vandalism.
As of September 2, 2025, both assemblies were sitting concurrently and livestreaming from parallel Facebook accounts, leaving residents deeply confused.
State of Isiolo County Assembly chambers after alleged goon attack on Tuesday night.
Photo credit: David Muchui |Nation
“I am the substantive Speaker of the County Assembly of Isiolo and the designated chambers are in Isiolo town. What is happening is a plot by the executive to evade accountability and cover up underhand dealings,” Mr Roba said.
“All our problems stem from Roba, the impeached Speaker. The legitimate County Assembly is conducting its business from Oldonyiro as renovations continue at the Isiolo chambers,” he argued.
The government printer has also been accused of fueling the chaos by publishing controversial gazette notices that recognised parallel leaderships.
Meanwhile, Isiolo’s 2025/2026 budget process has stalled after the Banticha-led assembly purportedly passed it—sparking rejection by the rival camp.
The trouble dates back to June 10, 2025, when a notice of motion to impeach Governor Abdi Guyo was tabled. The court halted the process, ruling that the governor had not been duly served.
Soon after, the Assembly sent Clerk Boru on compulsory leave over alleged gross misconduct and financial impropriety, appointing Yussuf Haji as acting clerk. Mr Boru, however, challenged the decision in court and has insisted he remains in office.
Around the same time, a fake letter circulated online claiming Speaker Roba had resigned. The Assembly dismissed it as false and proceeded with a fresh impeachment motion on June 18, which was debated and passed on June 26 by 16 out of 18 MCAs.
Mr Boru countered with a statement declaring the impeachment invalid, citing existing court orders. He went further, publishing a gazette notice announcing the “election” of Mr Banticha as Speaker—at a time when Roba and his allies were in Machakos debating the impeachment motion.
Despite Roba’s insistence that Boru was on compulsory leave and lacked authority to issue communications, the Banticha camp pressed on, holding sittings and issuing further gazette notices.
The Senate later overturned Governor Guyo’s impeachment, prompting five more MCAs to cross over to the Banticha faction.
Smoke billows from Isiolo county secretary's office.
Photo credit: David Muchui
“The County Assembly I lead is duly operational because I have the quorum of six members out of 18,” he said.
“Even if they demolish the entire County Assembly building, we will sit on the blocks and transact business in Isiolo town. Nothing will stop us,” Roba declared.
Ngaremara MCA Peter Losu called Bunge Mashinani a sham. “To relocate an assembly, there must be a substantive motion passed by a majority of MCAs and approved by the Speaker. A deputy speaker has no power to relocate it. The Oldonyiro assembly is nothing more than a public baraza.”
Governance analyst Prof Gitile Naituli argues that Isiolo’s government is now dysfunctional and should be suspended under Article 192 of the Constitution.
“None of the rival assemblies can legally operate. The presidency must intervene,” he said.
Chairman Rev Samuel Kobia said the failed impeachment attempt has triggered vandalism, ethnic incitement, and political violence.
“What is unfolding in Isiolo is not normal political contestation but a profound breakdown of political order—one that threatens the fragile social fabric,” he warned.
The NCIC says it has received credible reports of illegal firearms, mercenary involvement, and misuse of public resources to fund political violence.
“We cannot allow the county to go on like this for too long. Law and order must prevail,” he said.
The crisis mirrors last year’s 10-month wrangle in the Nyamira County Assembly following the impeachment of its Speaker. The Senate’s Devolution Committee later declared Nyamira’s Bunge Mashinani illegal and ordered the recovery of funds spent on parallel sittings. The High Court upheld the impeachment and confirmed a new Speaker, ending the dispute.
Whether Isiolo will find closure as Nyamira did remains to be seen. For now, it remains a county with two assemblies, two Speakers, and a people caught in the crossfire of a deepening constitutional crisis.
