•This Comes Amid Governor Impeachment Tensions
In a dramatic escalation of political unrest in Kenya’s Isiolo County, authorities have apprehended four individuals, including two prominent former Members of Parliament from Isiolo South, in connection with the recent vandalism of the Isiolo County Assembly.
The arrests underscore the deepening divisions within the region’s political landscape, where a bitter feud over the impeachment of Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo has spiraled into acts of violence, property destruction, and widespread insecurity.
As investigations intensify, residents and leaders alike are calling for swift justice to restore order in this volatile northern Kenyan county.
Details of the Arrests and Charges
According to a police occurrence book (OB) report obtained by news outlets, the suspects were identified as former Isiolo South MPs Abdullahi Banticha and Abdi Koropu Tepo, along with Hassan Bonaya and Kotobo Mohamed.
The quartet was detained yesterday in Nanyuki, a town in neighboring Laikipia County, and remains in police custody pending formal proceedings.
Authorities have indicated that the individuals will face charges of malicious damage to property stemming from the attack on the county’s legislative building.
The suspects are slated to appear in court today, where prosecutors are expected to outline the evidence linking them to the incident. This development follows a surge in lawlessness that has gripped Isiolo, prompting the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ramp up its probe.
Officials have warned that additional arrests could be forthcoming as detectives piece together the full scope of the events, including potential accomplices and underlying motives.
The Vandalism Incident: A Timeline of Destruction
The arrests are directly tied to a brazen act of vandalism that left the Isiolo County Assembly in disarray. On Wednesday night, unknown assailants ransacked the assembly chambers, scattering chairs and furniture both inside and outside the building while tearing down the chamber’s soundproofing materials.
The destruction escalated the following day when, around noon on Thursday, the office of the county secretary—adjacent to the assembly—was set ablaze, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and requiring intervention from the Kenya Defence Forces and Isiolo Airport fire services to contain the flames.
This was not an isolated event. It marks the second major attack on the assembly in recent months, following a similar incident in late June where vandals destroyed the Hansard system, looted offices, and even involved a shooting that injured a 26-year-old resident, Barack Abdullahi.
In that earlier chaos, two vehicles were damaged, windows shattered, and various items stolen amid clashes during an impeachment session against Governor Guyo.
Anti-riot police were deployed to quell the unrest, highlighting the recurring pattern of violence tied to political disputes.
Political Context: A Fractured Assembly and Impeachment Saga
At the heart of these disturbances lies a protracted political crisis within the 18-member Isiolo County Assembly, which has fractured into two rival factions, each claiming legitimacy and operating with its own speaker.
The turmoil traces back to an attempt earlier this year to impeach Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo, a move that initially united some Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) but soon led to betrayals and realignments.
Following the impeachment bid, seven MCAs reconciled with the governor, forming a pro-Guyo faction led by Speaker Abdullahi Banticha—the same individual now arrested as a former MP.
Opposing them is a larger group of 11 MCAs under Speaker Mohamed Roba, who have accused the rival camp of undermining legislative processes, including the allegedly fraudulent approval of the 2025/2026 county budget without proper public participation or debate.
Tensions boiled over with disputes over assembly sittings, including a controversial gazette notice by Deputy Speaker David Lemantile to relocate proceedings to Oldonyiro ward—a move later revoked and deemed unconstitutional.
Further aggravating the situation were motions to penalize four absent MCAs and to remove County Assembly Clerk Salad Guracha for alleged misconduct and incompetence.
These internal rifts have not only stalled critical county operations but have also spilled into public clashes, fostering an environment ripe for vandalism and arson.
The involvement of former MPs like Banticha and Tepo adds another layer of intrigue.
Banticha, in particular, has been a central figure in the pro-Guyo faction, while Tepo has faced prior legal troubles, including charges in 2024 for possessing fake US dollars worth $34,200 and an unlicensed pistol, for which he was released on bail.
Their alleged roles in the recent vandalism raise questions about external influences exacerbating the assembly’s divisions.
Broader Implications: Insecurity and Calls for Reconciliation
The ongoing saga has heightened insecurity in Isiolo, a county already grappling with ethnic tensions, resource disputes, and banditry in its arid landscapes.
Residents have expressed alarm over the rising acts of lawlessness, which threaten to disrupt essential services and deter investment in this strategically important region bordering Meru, Laikipia, and Samburu counties.
Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Bernard Okwiri has acknowledged the challenges, noting efforts to broker reconciliation among political leaders to prevent further escalation.
Meanwhile, Isiolo Sub-County Police Commander Joseph Mwendwa has emphasized the need for thorough investigations, urging victims like the injured Barack Abdullahi to provide statements to aid in identifying perpetrators.
As the DCI continues its multifaceted probe—encompassing both the June and recent incidents—analysts warn that without resolution, Isiolo’s political instability could have ripple effects on national governance, given the county’s role in Kenya’s devolved system.
Leaders from across the spectrum are now under pressure to prioritize dialogue over destruction, ensuring that the rule of law prevails in this troubled frontier.
This unfolding story highlights the fragile intersection of politics and security in Kenya’s devolved counties, where personal ambitions can ignite widespread chaos. Stay tuned for updates as the suspects are arraigned and investigations progress.
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