Senate · Morning Sitting
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Senators debated the procedural validity of a resolution from the Isiolo County Assembly to remove its governor, focusing on whether the required two‑thirds majority and proper documentation were satisfied. Witnesses questioned the certification of the County Assembly Hansard and the relevance of court orders, framing the issue as a preliminary objection before any substantive trial can proceed. The discussion highlighted the need to adhere strictly to standing orders, manuals, and constitutional provisions governing impeachment processes. County Assembly counsel argued that the Governor's attempt to halt impeachment proceedings is unlawful, citing Supreme Court and Court of Appeal rulings that lower court orders can be ignored if erroneous. They emphasized the need to allow the Senate to hear the case fully, noting that allegations of forgery must be specifically pleaded and proven. The Speaker scheduled additional time for both sides before the Senate makes a determination on the preliminary objection. The Senate convened a special sitting to begin the impeachment hearing of Isiolo County Governor Hon. Abdi Ibrahim Hassan, outlining procedural steps including a closed‑door preparatory session and granting equal time for the County Assembly and the Governor’s legal teams. Counsel for the Governor raised a preliminary objection questioning the legal nature of the County Assembly’s resolution, seeking to have the alleged impeachment deemed a ‘phantom’ process. The Speaker managed the agenda, granting the requested time allocations and moving the hearing forward.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for another 10 minutes.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Order, hon. Senators. We now have quorum. Kindly take your seats, so that we can start the business of the day. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.
Hon. Senators, I have a Communication to make relating to the business of the Senate scheduled for consideration during this solemn Sitting. You will recall that at the Special Sitting of the Senate held on Monday, 30th June, 2025, I appointed today, Tuesday, 8th July, Wednesday, 9th July and Thursday, 10th July, 2025 as the days when the Senate will hear the charges for the proposed removal from…
[(if they are present)]
[(if they are present)]
Order, hon. Senators! Kindly, take your seats. Sen. Chute and your team, please, take your seats. Clerk, you may now proceed to call the first Order.
[(Several Senators stood in their places)]
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The legal team for the County Assembly of Isiolo is comprised as follows-
Sen. Wamatinga, take your seat. Hon. Senators, I now similarly invite Counsel for the Governor to introduce the legal team representing the Governor by stating the full name and designation of each person. You may proceed, Counsel.
Hon. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Governor of Isiolo County, we have the following team of advocates. We have-
Sen. Onyonka, take your seat, please. Now, Hon. Senators, on behalf of the Senate, I welcome the team for the County Assembly, the team for the Governor, members of public and the media to this Senate and to these proceedings. Finally, I now invite the Clerk to call the next Order, and thereafter read the charges against the Hon. Abdi Ibrahim Hassan, the Governor of Isiolo County. Clerk, you may…
Next Order, Clerk.
I, therefore, direct that the County Assembly may utilise its remaining 10 minutes, so that the Senate shall adjourn at 1.10 p.m. or such earlier time as the County Assembly concludes its submissions. The Senate then, will resume sitting at 2.30 p.m. when the Governor's Counsel will have his 10 minutes to respond before the Senate proceeds to make a determination on the preliminary objection. It …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As I was submitting, hon. Senators, is that my colleagues have indeed said, and I agree completely, that forgery must be specifically pleaded and proven. The mere word of the Governor's counsel on this pulpit cannot be taken as evidence of forgery. Indeed, in a decision of the Court of Appeal, Jennifer Nyambura Kamau versus Humphrey Mbaka Nandi, the court held that it…
We shall also lead evidence to show that there has been a pattern of attempts to scuttle these impeachment proceedings right from the start and these attempts were made by the Governor. We shall adduce evidence to show that the Governor took every possible step, whether legal or otherwise, to try and stop and scuttle these impeachment proceedings. For these reasons, we submit that it is necessary,…
Mr. Speaker, Sir and Members of the Senate, I will take a few minutes just to conclude our remarks on behalf of the County Assembly. I would just like to highlight the two-faced approach to the contest raised by the Governor. On one hand, the Governor is saying that there was no Motion, no resolution passed that is capable of coming before this Senate---
Counsel, for the sake of the HANSARD, kindly state your name.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, before I proceed, my name is Paul Wafula. I am an advocate and I am part of the team representing the County Assembly. Given the disruption, I kindly request that I be added some time since I have not utilized my time.
Four minutes.
Most obliged. I kindly request to conclude the remarks of the County Assembly by demonstrating the two-faced nature of the contest that the Governor has raised. On one hand, you are being told that there was no resolution passed by the County Assembly to impeach the Governor. It is for that reason that my learned friends took detailed time to take you through the HANSARD and evidence to show that …
On that basis alone, we kindly ask this House to disregard the preliminary objection raised in the manner it deserves and it proceeds to hearing.
Thank you.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.14 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until later today, Tuesday, 8th July, 2025 at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.14 p.m.