ODPP Orders Arrest of Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has ordered the arrest of Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan and seven others. 

In a statement on Friday, September 5, the ODPP directed that the eight be charged with kidnapping and robbery with violence.

"The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) wishes to inform the public of the impending arrest and arraignment of Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan alias Guyo and seven other individuals in connection with serious criminal offences," the statement read.

According to the ODPP, the case stems from an inquiry initially handled in Machakos County before being referred to Nairobi for independent review due to its public significance.

"On 19th June 2025, the ODPP Machakos County received an inquiry file from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Kiyumbi concerning Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan alias Guyo and seven others. Owing to the matter’s significant Public Interest, the file was referred to ODPP Headquarters in Nairobi for independent and impartial review," the statement continued.

According to the ODPP, investigations revealed that on the day of the incident, former Isiolo County Chief Officer of Health, Abdirahaman Mohamed, and several MCAs aligned to the governor’s impeachment were attacked and kidnapped under the governor’s instructions.

"On the material day, former Isiolo County Chief Officer of Health, Abdirahaman Mohamed and 15 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) supporting the Governor’s impeachment were at Outbark Hotel in Maanzoni, Machakos County.

"The Governor and his supporters later arrived at the venue and, acting on his instructions, forcibly disarmed and attacked Mr. Abdirahaman. He was bundled into a vehicle and kidnapped. The Governor threatened Mr. Abdirahman before ordering his entourage to move him to the Ruai Sewage area, where he was blindfolded, beaten, and abandoned," the statement added.

The ODPP further noted that the victim lost property, including a firearm, phone, and cash, during the ordeal.

"During the ordeal, Mr. Abdirahaman lost a licensed Glock pistol with 15 rounds, an iPhone 16, and Ksh70,000 in cash, and personal belongings. CCTV footage from Outbark Hotel placed Governor Ibrahim Abdi Hassan alias Guyo alongside Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticah, Dade Boru, Abdirashid Ali Diba alias Ngila, Abdinur Dima Jiilo, Ahmed Duale, Josephat Mwangi Komu, and Yusuf Maina at the scene," the statement further read.

As a result, the DPP has directed the police to arrest and charge all the implicated individuals with kidnapping and robbery with violence.

"Based on the presented evidence, the DPP has directed the DCI to apprehend and arraign all the above suspects to face charges of Kidnapping with Intent to Cause Grievous Harm and Robbery with Violence," the statement concluded.

This comes two days after Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok was arrested and charged with seven criminal counts, including conflict of interest and money laundering, in connection with alleged irregular payments tied to county government contracts.

In a statement released on Tuesday, September 2, the ODPP noted that the charges stem from the alleged unlawful acquisition of funds totaling Ksh2 million from a construction company that conducted business with Bomet County.

According to the prosecution, between November 14, 2019, and March 10, 2021, Barchok unlawfully acquired an indirect private interest amounting to Ksh2 million through his dealings with Chemasus Construction Limited, a company that the County Government of Bomet had awarded contracts.

The court heard that the governor allegedly benefited financially from contracts executed by the construction firm, directly violating procurement regulations and anti-corruption legislation designed to prevent such conflicts of interest.

Barchok faces four additional counts of using the proceeds of crime through a series of suspicious financial transactions conducted after receiving the initial payment. 

Between March 15 and March 29, 2021, he allegedly conducted multiple transfers from his Equity Bank account to another account.

The specific transactions included Ksh300,000, Ksh314,000, Ksh100,000, and Ksh750,000 transfers. 

According to investigators, these transactions were strategically designed to disguise the illicit origin of the funds he had received from the construction contractor.

The prosecution explained that this pattern of financial movements was consistent with money laundering activities aimed at obscuring the criminal source of the funds.