The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has submitted a report to the National Assembly disputing the legitimacy of Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticha’s election as Isiolo County Speaker. According to the report, no official proceedings took place in June 2025 to remove former Speaker Mohamed Roba Koto or elect Banticha.
Addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, the DCI report is based on statements from 16 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and 18 assembly staff. They confirmed that the assembly did not sit on June 19, 24, or 26, contradicting documents allegedly used to validate Banticha’s election.
The report also revealed that on June 18, 2025, a group of individuals reportedly linked to Governor Abdi Guyo stormed the assembly chambers, assaulted officers, vandalized equipment, and stole recording devices and computers. With no backup system, all digital records, including Hansard data, were lost.
Legal concerns were further raised as both Banticha and Lucy Kagwiria Kaburu were serving as County Executive Committee (CEC) members at the time they allegedly sought to contest for the speaker position, which could violate the law.
The DCI accused Salad Boru Guracha of administering the affirmation and oath of office to Banticha despite knowing no proper assembly sitting had occurred. Banticha is also said to have signed affirmation documents while aware that no valid election took place.
Following the DCI findings, Banticha’s appointment was revoked via a Kenya Gazette notice on July 14, 2025, after the Attorney General’s advisory. The dispute later escalated to court when nine MCAs petitioned the High Court in Isiolo on August 27, 2025, challenging ongoing investigations by the DCI, Inspector General of Police, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). The court issued conservatory orders restraining the state from prosecuting the petitioners.
The DCI has forwarded its file to the ODPP. The High Court is set to rule on November 25, 2025, a decision that will shape the next steps in the ongoing investigation.
