A high-stakes impeachment trial for Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has kicked off in the Senate, with the House entering a two-day plenary hearing to determine whether the first-term governor will be removed from office.

This follows a vote by 16 out of 18 Members of the Isiolo County Assembly last month, accusing him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of the Constitution and other laws.

The trial, which is being held at the Senate Chambers in Nairobi, began this morning with a closed-door pre-hearing session for senators. According to the official Order Paper, the day’s programme includes several critical stages, starting with the recital of the Senate’s mandate and the hearing procedure.

Senators will then witness the formal introduction of the parties involvedboth the County Assembly and the Governor along with their legal teams, before the charges against the governor are officially read out.

From late morning, the Senate will consider preliminary objections raised by either party. If those objections are overruled, the hearing will proceed to opening statements by the County Assembly and the Governor’s legal teams, followed by witness presentations, re-examinations, and cross-examinations lasting until the evening.

The Assembly has been granted a maximum of three hours to present its evidence and re-examine witnesses, while the Governor’s side has up to two hours for cross-examination.

Governor Guyo, who is defending his seat, is represented by a team of eleven lawyers, including Elisha Ongoya, former Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri, Elias Mutuma, Tali Israel Tali, Marcelino Lesaigor, Miriam Rebecca Abong, Ruth Kiunga, Nura Abdulkadir Nura, Brianlee Maingi, Brian Gathii, and Ali Fila.

He has listed five witnesses: County Assembly Clerk Salad Boru Guracha, Chief Finance Officer Habiba Galgalo Jirma, Kinna MCA Abdinoor Dima Jillo, Garbatulla MCA Diba Abdirashid Ali, and Administration Police officer Shaban Mzungu.

The Isiolo County Assembly is being represented by a large legal team comprising Paul Nyamodi, Ekuru Aukot, Boniface Mawira, Eric Muriuki, Alex Mbaya, Patrick Barasa, Jamal Abdikadir, Kennedy Maweu, Paul Wafula, Alvin Kemboi, Brenda Mwangi, Diana Bosire, Kennedy Mugambi, and Hussein Kassim Roba.

Two legal assistants, Derick Kigotho and Marion Aromo, are also supporting the team. Witnesses lined up by the Assembly include MCAs Abubakar Abdi Godana, Lemantile David, Nicholas Lorot, and Peter Loyan, as well as Anab Kasim and Abdirahman Mohamed Ibrahim, with Loyan and Lemantile expected to actively participate in the hearings.

In a statement to the Senate, advocate Boniface Mawira said, “The Assembly’s witnesses shall rely on affidavits they have respectively sworn in support of the impeachment motion for purposes of the requirement for witness statements.”

He added, “Additionally, the witnesses shall rely on the impeachment motion and the documents submitted by the Assembly in support of the impeachment motion during their respective testimonies at the Senate.”

The Senate will continue with the hearing on Wednesday, the day set aside for closing statements and the final vote.

All 67 senators are expected to be present during the proceedings, but only the 47 elected senators,each representing a county, will be allowed to vote on whether to uphold any of the charges.

If at least 24 elected senators vote in favour of any of the charges, Governor Guyo will cease to hold office immediately.

However, he will have the legal option to challenge the decision in court. If the impeachment motion is defeated, the Senate Speaker is expected to inform the Isiolo County Assembly of the outcome.

This marks the seventh impeachment case handled by the Senate since the beginning of the 13th Parliament, and the third attempt to remove a governor during the current parliamentary term.

The House has considered five cases through plenary and two through special committees, including one involving a Deputy President.