Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him as the Senate officially began his impeachment trial.

The hearing, scheduled to run for two days, follows a decision by the Isiolo County Assembly to remove him from office.

On June 26, sixteen out of eighteen MCAs voted in support of the impeachment.

The governor is facing three main charges: gross violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct, and abuse of office. The accusations are drawn from a series of actions and decisions the County Assembly claims have undermined lawful governance and public trust.

Under the first charge of gross violation of the Constitution, the County Assembly accuses Guyo of failing to present the annual State of the County address for three years in a row.

He is also alleged to have hired more staff than necessary, breaching rules for establishing positions within the County Public Service. Additionally, the Assembly claims he ignored its recommendations that required him to properly manage and control the county’s public debt.

One of the key financial concerns raised involves bursary funds. According to the Assembly, the governor did not follow the approved budget when using the funds, leading to a gap of 30 million shillings that cannot be accounted for.

The second charge, abuse of office, centres around staffing decisions that are said to violate existing regulations. The County Assembly says the governor appointed 36 advisors to the Office of the Governor, contrary to guidelines set out in a circular issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission on July 29, 2013.

He is also accused of appointing 31 Chief Officers, which is more than the 18 posts outlined in the County Executive staffing plan issued in July 2022.

In addition, the governor allegedly placed these Chief Officers on two-year contracts, creating an environment of fear and insecurity among employees.

The Assembly argues that this move goes against Article 73(1)(b) of the Constitution. Further claims state that he failed to renew the contracts of County Executive Committee Members and appointed two Deputy County Secretaries to positions that are not recognised by law or included in the County’s official staff structure.

Under the charge of gross misconduct, the Assembly has cited public comments made by the governor that they describe as disrespectful and sexist toward Isiolo Senator Fatuma Adan Dullo.

The statements are said to violate the standards of leadership and integrity.

The Assembly also accuses Guyo of dividing the county along clan lines through discriminatory and derogatory remarks.

It further claims he has been absent from the county frequently and has been running county matters from Nairobi, leading to a breakdown in service delivery.

Guyo has denied all the accusations, and his defence team is expected to challenge each charge during the Senate trial. The outcome of the proceedings will determine whether he remains in office or is officially removed.