Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo during a meeting in Isiolo on Saturday/ HANDOUTGovernor Abdi Guyo has hit back at DCP boss Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of using claims of banditry and livestock theft to bully political leaders and influence Isiolo residents' political choices.
This is even as the governor fired a warning shot to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen over what he termed escalating senseless killings in Isiolo.
“We don’t want to see you in choppers playing politics. We want to see you boarding choppers to ensure the security of Kenyans is guaranteed,” Guyo said as he condemned recent killings in the county.
“Isiolo residents have suffered. They have been disarmed, and then our neighbours who are bothering us from Samburu East are yet to be disarmed.”
“If you will not disarm the people of Samburu East, then return ours so that the people of Isiolo can defend themselves. If the government cannot defend its people, then the people will defend themselves.”
Guyo dismissed allegations linking him, Health CS Aden Duale and President William Ruto to the alleged theft of livestock, saying residents should reject what he termed political “stupidity”. He spoke during a meeting in Isiolo on Saturday.
“I want to tell Gachagua from here in Isiolo. I knew you when you were Deputy President. I never heard you talk about banditry when you were Deputy President. Who are you to talk now?” Guyo said.
Guyo accused the former DP of attempting to intimidate, bully leaders and dictate who should be elected in Isiolo.
“We don’t want that stupidity here in Isiolo. If he is used to bullying people into submission, then he should know that I am not the type you can bully into submission,” he said.
The governor also rejected allegations he was involved in stealing or selling livestock belonging to residents, challenging Isiolo voters to judge the claims for themselves.
“If you say I am selling other people’s livestock, you, the people of Isiolo, do you think that is true? Can I do that work?” Guyo asked.
He further warned Gachagua against assuming that his political endorsements could determine the outcome of elections in Isiolo.
“Who are you to tell people who will be elected and who will not?” he said, adding that his political survival depended on God and the electorate.
“My fate is in God’s hands, not human beings. I cannot be bullied by anyone,” he said.
Guyo, who has built a long political career in Nairobi and Isiolo, said the Kikuyu community residing in Isiolo would still vote for him, Gachagua’s political position notwithstanding.
“I know there are so many Kikuyus in Isiolo, but they cannot fail to elect me because Wamunyoro has said so. No,” he said.
Turning to the 2027 presidential contest, Guyo vowed strong support for Ruto in Isiolo, despite growing political realignments ahead of the elections.
“I want to tell Gachagua today: President William Ruto will get 80 per cent of the people of Isiolo,” Guyo said.
He also questioned the political weight of Gachagua’s supporters who recently visited him from Isiolo, claiming that most came from a single clan.
“Over 80 per cent of them came from one clan,” he said, setting the stage for an increasingly contested political battle in the county.
On insecurity, the governor told CS Murkomen to stop politicking and instead focus on ensuring the security of Isiolo residents and Kenyans is guaranteed.
“I want to condemn the senseless killing that happened here when I was out of the country. Such senseless killings should not be condoned and should never happen again,” he said.
“We don’t want those games. If you see a kid of seven years being cut into pieces like a soap, how do you feel? Then you, [CS], you are just flying around in choppers politicking.”
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The clash exposes how insecurity in Isiolo is becoming intertwined with the 2027 political contest. Guyo’s attack on Gachagua and Murkomen risks turning banditry, livestock theft and disarmament into political mobilisation issues, while his call for residents to defend themselves raises serious concerns over possible vigilantism and escalation of inter-community violence. His warning also puts pressure on the national government to demonstrate control over security operations. Politically, Isiolo is emerging as a key battleground where insecurity could shape alliances, voting patterns and ethnic mobilisation ahead of 2027.
