Isiolo, Kenya| A fierce battle over the leadership of the Isiolo County Assembly has sparked intense debate, with prominent local voice Wakili Dharartu emerging as a staunch defender of Speaker Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticha’s legitimate authority.
In a powerful and impassioned statement, Dharartu has condemned former Speaker Mohamed Roba Qoto (MRQ) for what she describes as a calculated campaign to undermine the rule of law and destabilize the county’s governance.
Her remarks, grounded in a deep concern for Isiolo’s future, have cast a spotlight on the ongoing crisis and the critical need for institutional order.
Dharartu’s Call for Lawful Leadership
Speaking as a self-described “daughter of Isiolo County,” Wakili Dharartu minced no words in her defense of Speaker Banticha, whom she asserts is the only lawful Speaker of the County Assembly.
“This is no longer just a political contest,” Dharartu declared. “It is a full-scale attack on our institutions, and I will not stay silent as disorder parades as leadership.”
Dharartu emphasized that Banticha’s legitimacy is rooted in a valid court stay order, supported by the County Assembly Clerk, the Executive, and the Constitution of Kenya.
She praised the Speaker for his quiet, consistent, and lawful approach to leadership, noting that he has refrained from engaging in public theatrics or staging disruptions.
“He has not shouted. He has not staged walkouts. He has simply worked—quietly, consistently, legally,” she said, highlighting Banticha’s commitment to institutional continuity and effective governance.
Under Banticha’s leadership, Dharartu argued, the County Assembly has continued to fulfill its mandate, including passing budgets and conducting oversight of the Executive. She described his restraint in the face of provocation as a hallmark of maturity and constitutional discipline, qualities she believes are essential for Isiolo’s progress.
Condemning MRQ’s “Campaign of Disruption”
In stark contrast, Dharartu accused former Speaker Mohamed Roba Qoto of waging a campaign fueled by “ego and defiance” rather than principle.
She alleged that MRQ has illegally occupied premises gazetted for the sitting Speaker, holding unauthorized sittings funded from his personal resources. These “pseudo-assemblies,” she argued, are designed to confuse the public and create a false sense of legitimacy.
“MRQ may be loud, but it is Speaker Banticha who is actually working, because the system recognizes him,” Dharartu stated.
She drew parallels to a similar leadership dispute in Nyamira County, where a faction clinging to an illegitimate claim burned through personal finances to sustain unofficial activities, ultimately to no avail. “The exact same script is playing out here in Isiolo,” she warned, predicting that MRQ’s efforts would lead to a dead end.
Dharartu was unequivocal in her assertion that legitimacy stems from the law, not from occupying a building or rallying sympathizers. She noted that the County Assembly Clerk holds the authority to gazette a new facility as the official assembly venue if MRQ persists in occupying the current premises.
Should this occur, she cautioned, MRQ and his supporters would be left as “political tourists” in a building stripped of legal significance, where no motions, bills, or resolutions would carry weight.
A Test of Institutional Respect
Framing the crisis as a broader test of respect for democratic institutions, Dharartu argued that MRQ’s refusal to step down with dignity reflects a prioritization of self-interest over public service. “He had his time,” she said. “But instead of stepping down, he has chosen resistance over respect.”
Dharartu urged Isiolo’s residents to reject emotional appeals and dramatic press conferences, emphasizing that the county cannot be governed from the streets or by rogue factions. “We are not in a season of rebellion,” she declared. “We are in a season of responsibility.”
A Vision for Isiolo’s Future
Dharartu’s unequivocal support for Speaker Banticha is rooted in her belief that his leadership offers the stability and progress Isiolo desperately needs.
She called on the county’s residents to rally behind lawful governance, warning that the alternative—division and grandstanding—would derail development. “Isiolo deserves governance, not grandstanding. Development, not division. Stability, not standoffs,” she said.
As the crisis unfolds, Dharartu’s voice has resonated as a clarion call for order and accountability. She predicted that history would judge leaders not by who shouted the loudest but by who upheld the law and served the people.
“When the dust settles, and it will, Speaker Banticha will be remembered as the leader who stood for Isiolo’s future,” she concluded.
Community Reactions
Dharartu’s remarks have sparked mixed reactions in Isiolo. Supporters of Speaker Banticha have hailed her as a courageous advocate for the rule of law, while MRQ’s faction has dismissed her statements as biased.
Local residents, however, expressed growing frustration with the ongoing standoff, with many echoing Dharartu’s call for stability and effective governance.
As Isiolo navigates this turbulent chapter, Wakili Dharartu’s impassioned defense of lawful leadership has positioned her as a key figure in the fight to preserve the county’s democratic institutions.
With the law firmly on Speaker Banticha’s side, the question remains whether MRQ’s defiance will give way to the inevitable triumph of legitimacy.
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