In what now appears to be a textbook case of political stagecraft, Speaker Mohamed Roba Qoto (MRQ) and his close associates stand accused—not in a court of law, but in the court of public conscience—of engineering a grotesque charade allegedly intended to destabilize the administration of Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo.
The sensational claims surrounding the purported “abduction” of one Abdirahman Mohamed Affey, a former chief officer in the Isiolo County Government’s health department, reek of a broader scheme laced with political mischief, external interference, and a flagrant abuse of institutional power.
This investigative piece, underpinned by independent analysis and publicly available evidence, endeavors to deconstruct this purported conspiracy.
What emerges is not merely a tale of political betrayal, but a disturbing reflection of how state-like tactics are being co-opted for political warfare, raising grave concerns over the subversion of public trust and the manipulation of national security narratives for personal gain.
The Genesis of a Plot: Allegations and Apparent Contradictions
The crux of the drama revolves around Abdirahman Mohamed Affey—described by allies as a victim of executive-sanctioned persecution, and by critics as a disgruntled former official with a history of incompetence and alleged malpractice in the Isiolo health sector.
The alleged “abduction,” as first announced by Speaker Roba via a unilateral Facebook post, reportedly lasted no more than two hours—an unusually brief timeframe that, by legal standards, fails to meet the conventional threshold required for filing a missing person report.
Worse still, no police report has been publicly produced by MRQ, a former senior law enforcement officer.
This glaring omission raises critical questions: why would a man with decades of experience in crime prevention bypass legal reporting mechanisms and instead ignite a political firestorm on social media?
As legal scholars would argue, such conduct could be construed as “bad faith,” or at the very least, prima facie evidence of political weaponization of a serious criminal allegation.
Motive or Manufactured Malice?
The legal principle of mens rea—criminal intent—requires establishing motive. So what plausible benefit would Governor Guyo gain by orchestrating the abduction of a non-elected, sacked bureaucrat?
Abdirahman has no vote in the County Assembly, no influence in ongoing impeachment debates, and no political capital to sway the tide. If one were to orchestrate a high-risk, illegal action to derail impeachment proceedings, wouldn’t a more logical target be the MCAs themselves?
The lack of motive is glaring—and that, in criminal law, is often the beginning of reasonable doubt.
Smoke and Mirrors: The Inconsistencies of the “Kidnap” Narrative
The available video footage released by Abdirahman’s own team, ostensibly intended to validate his allegations, instead adds fuel to the counter-narrative: that this was a poorly staged drama with visible inconsistencies.
Despite claims of having endured brutal torture, including broken ribs and a fractured hand, Abdirahman appears in the video without any facial bruising or visible signs of trauma. His face, far from reflecting the aftermath of abuse, appears unblemished and calm—“glowing,” even.
But the most telling moment, what legal analysts might call the res ipsa loquitur (“the thing speaks for itself”), comes when he unconsciously uses his supposedly broken hand to wipe away imaginary tears, moments after attempting to cry on cue.
No visible tears are seen, and his fingers curl and move naturally—an impossibility for someone allegedly suffering from multiple fractures.
The footage is momentarily diverted—likely to avoid further inconsistencies—before resuming with Abdirahman regaining his composure and resuming his script.
This, by all indications, is not a spontaneous victim testimony, but a choreographed performance whose credibility collapses under the weight of its own contradictions.
Security Credentials or Political Choreography?
Abdirahman’s previous role in the National Intelligence Service and MRQ’s past service in high-ranking police units only deepens the mystery.
If the alleged victim is a trained intelligence operative, how could such a sloppy fabrication be his brainchild? Or was his performance merely the execution of a plot authored by more seasoned political actors?
In either case, it raises alarming questions about the abuse of intelligence and law enforcement experience for partisan sabotage.
The Government of Kenya, especially its national security organs, must critically re-examine how such individuals gained entry into sensitive roles, and whether this represents a breach of national security meritocracy.
Indeed, if these are the caliber of individuals charged with safeguarding the Republic, then we are only one errant appointment away from a national catastrophe.
A Deeper Conspiracy: Political Collusion Across County Lines
The orchestration appears far from an isolated affair. Political actors from neighboring counties—particularly Mandera and Marsabit—have been conspicuous in their chorus of condemnation, echoing the allegations without scrutiny.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Governor Mohamed Khalif, both prominent figures in the United Democratic Movement (UDM), have allegedly vested political interests in destabilizing the Guyo administration, given the UDM’s fragile grip on Isiolo’s County Assembly.
More puzzling is the entry of peripheral voices like Migori Senator Eddy Okech and ODM-nominated MP Umulkheir Harun Mohamed—individuals with no substantive links to Isiolo—yet quick to call for criminal investigations into the Governor without demanding forensic scrutiny of the alleged victim’s injuries.
This orchestrated outrage starkly contrasts with their collective silence during genuine human rights abuses in Northern Kenya, including those documented in a damning Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) report detailing torture, unlawful detention, and even fatalities during Operation Ondoa Jangili.
Are some lives deemed more worthy of justice than others?
The Disappearing MCAs and the Specter of Political Kidnapping
Days before MRQ unveiled his Facebook exposé, families of several Isiolo MCAs had already lodged complaints over their sudden and unexplained disappearance.
A local media outlet later reported that some of these MCAs had allegedly been abducted at gunpoint, with Abdirahman—ironically the “victim” of a later abduction—explicitly mentioned in these reports as a central figure in the initial kidnappings.
If indeed Speaker Roba Qoto is innocent, why not produce these MCAs in a public, secure space to confirm their freedom and safety? Transparency is the ultimate disinfectant; silence only deepens suspicion.
Political Assassination of Character: The Hyena Metaphor
As the African proverb goes, “When a hyena wants to eat its children, it accuses them of smelling like goats.” Governor Guyo, a seasoned political operator with a nearly two-decade track record of service—first in Nairobi City County and now in his native Isiolo—finds himself facing what appears to be a well-funded, externally driven political vendetta.
It is not hard to see the parallels between this modern political drama and historical coups dressed in legal garb. Guyo’s administration has been praised for its people-centered development agenda, especially in historically underserved areas.
Yet his opponents, seemingly unable to match him on the development front, have allegedly turned to dirty tricks, character assassination, and judicial manipulation.
The Threat of Bloodshed and the Deafening Silence of Security Agencies
Perhaps the most chilling turn of events came when Suleiman Abdikadir, a senior official in Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali’s administration, reportedly threatened “unprecedented bloodshed” in Isiolo if Governor Guyo is not removed.
This is not only an affront to democracy but potentially a prosecutable offence under Kenya’s laws on incitement to violence.
That no action has yet been taken—despite this threat being captured on video and circulated widely—raises the uncomfortable possibility of institutional complicity or selective enforcement of the law.
A Final Plea for Justice and Constitutionalism
While Governor Guyo has largely maintained his silence—a strategic decision, perhaps, born out of the obvious flimsiness of the allegations—it may now be time for him to seek legal redress. Malicious defamation and false reporting are actionable offences under Kenyan law.
More importantly, the people of Isiolo deserve the truth. An independent medical evaluation of Abdirahman’s alleged injuries, witnessed by neutral observers, is essential. Anything less is not just a travesty of justice, but a willful perversion of the democratic process.
Wrap Up: A Coup in the Making or a Last Gasp of a Dying Horse?
The attempted impeachment of Governor Guyo—spearheaded by a minority clique in the County Assembly with questionable loyalties—bears the hallmark of a political coup disguised as legislative oversight.
That MRQ has allegedly declared bias and intends to preside over the same proceedings is a gross violation of natural justice, one that any impartial court would be expected to strike down.
As Isiolo teeters on the brink of a constitutional crisis, Kenyans must ask: Are we witnessing the slow assassination of democracy in Northern Kenya? Or can institutions rise to the moment and protect the will of the people?
Injustice anywhere, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once warned, is a threat to justice everywhere. The truth behind Abdirahman’s “abduction” must not just be unraveled—it must be confronted with the full force of the law, the Constitution, and public scrutiny.
For the sake of Isiolo, and for the dignity of our republic.
Disclaimer| The views expressed in this article are solely author’s very own.
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