ODPP Orders DCI To Arrest Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to apprehend and arraign Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan, popularly known as Guyo, and seven other individuals for serious criminal offences, including kidnapping and robbery with violence.

The orders follow a comprehensive independent review of an inquiry file submitted by the DCI to the ODPP on June 19, 2025. 

Due to the significant public interest in the case, the file was escalated from the Machakos County office to the ODPP headquarters in Nairobi for assessment.

"The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) wishes to inform the public of the impending arrest and arraignment of Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan alias Guyo and seven other individuals in connection with serious criminal offences," ODPP said in a statement. 

Embattled Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo appearing before the Senate on July 8, 2025. /SENATE

According to the ODPP's findings, the charges stem from a violent incident at the Outbark Hotel in Maanzoni, Machakos County.

The investigation found that on the day in question, former Isiolo County Chief Officer of Health Abdirahaman Mohamed was at the hotel with 15 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who supported the Governor's impeachment.

The ODPP states that Governor Guyo and his supporters arrived at the venue, where the Governor allegedly instructed his entourage to forcibly disarm and attack Mr. Abdirahaman. The former Chief Officer was then bundled into a vehicle and kidnapped.

The press release details that Governor Guyo personally threatened the victim before ordering his associates to transport him to the Ruai Sewage area. There, Abdirahaman was blindfolded, beaten, and abandoned. During the ordeal, he was robbed of a licensed Glock pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition, an iPhone 16, and Ksh70,000 in cash, and other personal belongings.

CCTV footage from the hotel reportedly places Governor Guyo at the scene alongside seven other suspects identified as Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticah, Dade Boru, Abdirashid Ali Diba (alias Ngila), Abdinur Dima Jillo, Ahmed Duale, Josephat Mwangi Komu, and Yusuf Maina.

Concluding that there is sufficient evidence, the DPP has ordered the DCI to proceed with arresting the eight suspects to face formal charges of Kidnapping with Intent to Cause Grievous Harm and Robbery with Violence.

"Based on the presented evidence, the DPP has directed the DCI to apprehend and arraign all the above suspects to face charges of Kidnapping with Intent to Cause Grievous Harm and Robbery with Violence," added the statement.

Just two months ago, Guyo survived impeachment after the Senate threw out the charges levelled against him by the County Assembly, citing flaws in the procedure. On July 8, the Senate upheld preliminary objections from the governor’s legal team, which argued that the County Assembly did not follow due process.

A majority of Senators agreed with the defence’s position that the Assembly had not convened on June 18 and 26 to deliberate on the impeachment motion, rendering the process invalid.

Senators also pointed out that a court order was in effect at the time, prohibiting the impeachment proceedings from taking place.

During the vote, 31 elected senators representing county delegations backed the motion to uphold the objection, effectively halting the impeachment process. Twelve senators voted against it, with none abstaining.

16 out of 18 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) in Isiolo voted in favour of removing the county boss from office. The impeachment was initiated by Sericho MCA Abubakar Godana, who accused the Governor of failing to deliver on development projects and falling short of county revenue collection targets.