In a significant development in Isiolo County’s ongoing political saga, a Nairobi court on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, declined to suspend the gazette notice appointing Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticha as the new Speaker of the Isiolo County Assembly.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye at the Milimani Law Courts, followed a petition by the activist group Operation Linda Jamii, which sought to halt Banticha’s appointment pending a full hearing.
The decision marks another chapter in the county’s tumultuous political landscape, characterized by leadership disputes and a recent unsuccessful attempt to impeach Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo.
Court’s Ruling and Next Steps
Justice Mwamuye declined to issue interim orders to suspend the gazette notice, instead directing Operation Linda Jamii to serve all relevant parties with the petition by July 16, 2025.
The court further set a timeline for responses, requiring all parties to file their replies by July 16 and submissions by July 25, ahead of a full hearing scheduled for August 11, 2025.
This procedural approach ensures that all sides have an opportunity to present their arguments, maintaining judicial fairness in addressing the contentious appointment.
The petition by Operation Linda Jamii challenged the gazettement of Abdullahi Banticha as Speaker, which followed the controversial ousting of the former Speaker, Mohamed Roba.
The group argued that the process leading to Banticha’s appointment was irregular, prompting their legal action to suspend the gazette notice published on June 27, 2025, by Assembly Clerk Salad Guracha.
The notice declared Banticha as the duly elected Speaker and Chairman of the Isiolo County Assembly Service Board, replacing Roba, who had been at the center of the failed impeachment proceedings against Governor Guyo.
Background of Political Tensions
The court’s decision comes against the backdrop of heightened political tensions in Isiolo County, fueled by leadership wrangles within the County Assembly and a recent failed attempt to impeach Governor Abdi Guyo.
On June 26, 2025, 16 out of 18 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) voted to impeach Guyo, citing gross misconduct, abuse of office, and constitutional violations, including the appointment of 36 advisors and 31 chief officers despite the county’s limited revenue allocation.
However, the High Court in Meru, presided over by Justice Heston Mbogo, declared the impeachment null and void on June 27, 2025, citing active conservatory orders issued on June 25 that barred the Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment.
The Senate further upheld this ruling on July 8, 2025, dismissing the impeachment charges due to procedural irregularities, including the lack of verifiable Hansard records and the Assembly’s failure to comply with court orders.
The Senate’s decision, supported by 31 senators, effectively allowed Governor Guyo to remain in office, though Senate Speaker Amason Kingi urged him to mend ties with county leaders to restore stability.
Controversy Surrounding the Speaker’s Appointment
The appointment of Abdullahi Banticha as Speaker has further deepened the leadership crisis in Isiolo County.
The gazette notice, signed by Clerk Salad Guracha, followed a contentious process that saw Mohamed Roba ousted as Speaker. Reports indicate that Banticha’s election was allegedly supported by only two MCAs, raising questions about its legitimacy.
Banticha’s supporters are however adamant that his appointment was legal and done according to the Kenyan constitution and County Assembly of Isiolo Standing Orders.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo criticized the Government Printer for gazetting an appointment based on such limited support, highlighting the ongoing dysfunction within the Assembly.
Adding to the complexity, the Assembly has been grappling with a legitimacy crisis, with two speakers and two clerks claiming authority.
Mohamed Roba, who presided over the impeachment proceedings, had suspended Clerk Guracha, appointing Yussuf Hajj as acting clerk. However, Guracha was reinstated by a court order, and his subsequent gazettement of Banticha as Speaker further escalated tensions.
Roba dismissed Banticha’s appointment as invalid, even as Guracha moved to repossess vehicles assigned to Roba, signaling a deepening power struggle.
The impeachment saga and the speaker controversy have also been marked by physical confrontations and vandalism.
On June 26, 2025, the impeachment proceedings were marred by chaos, with reports of stone-throwing, teargas, and gunfire outside the Assembly, forcing MCAs to relocate proceedings to Nakuru and Machakos.
A shooting incident during the chaos left one individual, Barack Abdullahi, injured, with allegations that Roba fired the shot—a claim he denied, leaving it to police investigations.
Broader Implications for Isiolo County
The ongoing political turmoil in Isiolo County has raised concerns about governance and service delivery.
Senator Fatuma Dullo has warned that the county is “bleeding” due to the persistent wrangles, while Senate Speaker Amason Kingi emphasized the need for reconciliation to rebuild trust among county leaders.
Governor Guyo, in response to surviving the impeachment, has extended an olive branch to his rivals, pledging to focus on unity and development.
However, the dual leadership claims within the Assembly and the legal battles over Banticha’s appointment suggest that reconciliation may be challenging.
Operation Linda Jamii’s petition reflects broader public discontent with the county’s leadership struggles. The activist group’s legal challenge underscores the demand for transparency and adherence to due process in county governance.
The upcoming hearing on August 11, 2025, will be critical in determining whether Banticha’s appointment will stand or if further judicial intervention will reshape the Assembly’s leadership.
Calls for Stability and Reform
The leadership crisis in Isiolo County has drawn attention to the need for institutional reforms to prevent similar conflicts in the future.
Observers, including local elders and residents, have called for mediation to resolve the standoff between Governor Guyo, the County Assembly, and other stakeholders.
The Samburu Council of Elders and the Somali Council of Elders have offered to facilitate dialogue to de-escalate tensions, emphasizing non-confrontational solutions.
Legal experts and analysts have also highlighted the importance of upholding court orders to maintain the rule of law.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, during the Senate’s impeachment deliberations, warned that disregarding judicial directives would set a dangerous precedent for governance.
The High Court’s rulings in both the impeachment and speaker disputes underscore the judiciary’s role in checking unconstitutional actions by county assemblies.
Looking Ahead
The Nairobi court’s decision to allow Abdullahi Banticha to remain as Isiolo County Assembly Speaker pending the August 11 hearing prolongs the uncertainty surrounding the county’s leadership.
As Isiolo navigates this turbulent period, the focus remains on whether Governor Guyo and the Assembly can reconcile to prioritize development and restore public trust.
The outcome of the upcoming legal proceedings will likely have far-reaching implications for the county’s political stability and governance framework.
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