Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo risks being arrested after he failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on Tuesday, October 1.
The Senate Labour Committee, chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor has resorted to having Governor Guyo arrested after the county chief snubbed the committee for the third time.
“We as a committee have resolved that the governor should pay a Ksh500,000 fine from his pocket and he should be arrested and brought before the committee,” the committee chair said.
The Governor failed to appear before the committee on August 27, 2024 and September 16, 2024, prompting the Senate to summon him for a third time with lawmakers setting October 1, 2024 as the date when Guyo should appear.
An aerial view of senators seated during proceedings in the Senate of Kenya
Photo
Senate of Kenya
The Governor however snubbed the summon on Tuesday morning triggering the committee’s wrath and the subsequent calls for arrest.
The Governor was supposed to respond to several issues revolving around Human Resource practices at the county such as the number of employees on the county’s payroll and the terms under which they are engaged.
Besides the warrant of arrest, a notice to file a motion to discuss Governor Guyo’s conduct has been tabled at the Senate with several lawmakers threatening to withhold funds for the devolved unit until the leadership demonstrates responsibility and respect for the house.
Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki expressed his disillusionment that Governor Guyo has consistently shown contempt for the house and disdain for the Senate as the institution responsible for oversighting the counties.
“I believe a warrant of arrest would be the best remedy for now. Let the pressure be on the Inspector General to bring him before the Committee,” Senator Faki said.
The arrest warrant was triggered by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo who lobbied her colleagues to query governance at the devolved unit amid claims that the Governor has been acting with reckless abandon.
Senator Dullo in her official statement submitted on February 15, 2024 wanted the Governor to provide human resource policies and procedures, a comprehensive list of County Executive and Assembly staff and detailed payroll records.
Earlier, Governor Guyo, revealed that he would not be appearing before the Senate Committee alleging that the motion against him is politically instigated and a witch hunt.
Guyo explained that he gave a written response to Senator Dullo’s statement and pledged to provide more written responses on request but unequivocally stated that he would not be honouring any summon.
File Photo of Isiolo County Governor Abdi Guyo
File
