The High Court in Meru has declared the impeachment of Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo null and void, effectively halting the recent move by the County Assembly to remove him from office. The decision came during a virtual court session held on Friday, June 27, 2025, where Justice Heston Nyaga reaffirmed a conservatory order issued earlier on June 25, barring the Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment.
The ruling follows a petition that challenged the validity of the impeachment motion, which was tabled on June 18 and culminated in a unanimous vote by 16 members of the county assembly on June 26. The petition, filed by Abdi Hassan, successfully secured interim orders against the County Assembly, its Speaker, and the Clerk, effectively freezing any actions related to the motion.
Justice Nyaga emphasized that the conservatory orders would remain in place unless overturned or reviewed by the same court or an appellate court. He declared that any acts carried out in defiance of the court’s directives, including the impeachment itself, would be deemed invalid and without legal effect.
The court also heard an application from the petitioner’s legal team seeking to have the Speaker and Clerk cited for contempt of court for ignoring the existing order. The judge directed that the two appear in person or through legal representation on Monday, June 30, to respond to the allegations of contempt.
The situation was further complicated when the legal team representing the respondents comprising several lawyers sought the judge’s recusal and a stay of the proceedings. They argued that their clients had lost confidence in the court’s impartiality and claimed a violation of the right to a fair hearing.
Justice Nyaga, however, insisted that the issue of compliance with the court’s earlier order must be addressed before any applications for recusal or stay could be entertained. The respondents’ counsel had failed to clarify whether they had complied with the June 25 order, which intensified the legal dispute during the court session.
As legal wrangling continues, the fate of Governor Guyo’s position remains uncertain. It is also unclear how the Senate will proceed in light of the High Court’s ruling and the pending contempt proceedings, which could significantly influence the direction of the case moving forward.
