Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo when he appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday /JULIUS OTIENOIsiolo Governor Abdi Guyo is pushing for a leaders’ meeting involving Isiolo, Samburu, Meru and Marsabit to find a lasting solution to escalating insecurity in the region.
He proposed as the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) vacated an arrest warrant against him after he appeared before the panel on Tuesday to respond to audit queries.
The committee had directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to produce the governor after he failed to honour previous summons.
However, when he appeared before the committee, Guyo apologised for his absence, saying it was beyond his control.
“I apologise for non-appearance. It was beyond my control. Whenever I failed to appear, I sent correspondence to the committee. I hold this committee in high regard,” he said.
The governor also complied with conditions imposed by the committee, including paying a Sh500,000 fine and submitting written responses to the audit queries.
Committee vice chairperson Samson Cherargei, who chaired Tuesday’s session, said the arrest warrant had been vacated following Guyo’s appearance, apology and compliance with the committee’s conditions.
“The arrest warrant is hereby discharged,” Cherargei said.
He said the committee would consider the written responses submitted by the governor and, if necessary, summon him again to clarify any outstanding issues.
But the session also provided an opportunity for senators to question Guyo about the worsening insecurity in Isiolo and neighbouring counties.
Guyo said residents had lost both lives and livestock in repeated attacks by bandits from neighbouring areas, describing the situation as a serious concern.
“We have suffered. Recently, five people were killed, including police officers, by the bandits. It is a serious concern,” he said.
He called for leaders from Isiolo, Samburu, Meru and Marsabit to sit down and discuss ways of ending the cycle of violence.
Guyo said the people of Isiolo were increasingly scared by the developments on the ground and urged leaders from the neighbouring counties to work together to de-escalate the situation.
“Isiolo people are scared of what is happening on the ground. We pushed this issue to the Minister for Interior and National Coordination, who has now agreed to do an operation in the Samburu area,” he said.
His remarks came after a police operation in Samburu that reportedly resulted in the killing of livestock, triggering complaints from residents and leaders.
Guyo criticised the focus on animals killed during the operation, saying Isiolo residents had lost thousands of cattle to bandit attacks.
“I've heard my friend, and a good friend indeed, the governor of Samburu, saying the police killed cows. It is very unfortunate seeing a reputable media house talking about livestock that were killed instead of talking about lives of human beings that were lost,” he said.
He claimed Isiolo residents had lost nearly 15,000 cattle to bandits from Samburu.
“I would like my colleague, the governor of Samburu, to tone down and look for leaders from Samburu and Isiolo so they can sit down and ask our people, because we are neighbours and we will continue being neighbours, to see how they are going to de-escalate this security issue in Isiolo,” Guyo said.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua backed calls for decisive government action, saying communities in his county had also suffered attacks by bandits.
“The senseless loss of life really must be brought to an end. We experience the same things in Kitui because of bandits hiding behind camels to kill our people, to maim our people,” Wambua said.
He questioned why police officers involved in security operations would target livestock, which he said were supposed to be protected.
“I thought those are the people that they should pursue to stop them from stealing animals. Now I'm wondering, when then they are involved in killing the very animals that they are supposed to be protecting?” Wambua asked.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has called for a meeting of leaders from Isiolo, Samburu, Meru and Marsabit to address escalating insecurity and bandit attacks in the region. Guyo said residents had lost lives and thousands of livestock, urging neighbouring leaders to work together to de-escalate tensions. His remarks came as the Senate County Public Accounts Committee vacated an arrest warrant against him after he appeared before the committee, apologised for missing previous summonses, paid a Sh500,000 fine and submitted written responses.
