Isiolo MCAs deny claims of fraudulent budget approval, term allegations politically motivated

Led by Deputy Speaker David Lemantile, who also represents Oldonyiro Ward, the MCAs defended the budget approval process, asserting that all legal and procedural requirements were strictly adhered to. Lemantile accused unnamed individuals of peddling falsehoods with the aim of destabilizing peace and development efforts in the county.

“The budget process followed the law to the letter,” Lemantile said. “Let no one mislead the people of Isiolo for their own selfish political gain. We must remain united and focused on service delivery.”

The rebuttal follows accusations made earlier in the week by a rival faction of MCAs allied to ousted Speaker Mohamed Roba Qoto. The group, which has opposed Governor Abdi Guyo’s administration, claimed the budget was passed fraudulently by pro-Guyo legislators, without following due process.

However, Lemantile and his allies described the accusations as politically motivated rhetoric meant to create the impression that the county government is dysfunctional. He urged residents to be wary of propaganda being used to foment unrest for narrow political interests.

“We do not have any other county to run to. Let’s not be misled into disrupting our own future. If there are grievances, they should be channeled through legal means,” he said.

The deputy speaker clarified that the County Assembly received and processed the 2025–2026 Appropriation Bill in accordance with Section 222(1) of the Assembly’s Standing Orders. He affirmed that the Isiolo County Executive is now legally empowered to implement the budget as stipulated in the Appropriation Act, 2025.

Rehema Abdikadir, the vice chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, backed Lemantile’s position, reiterating that the budget approval underwent a thorough and lawful review process.

“I want to assure the people of Isiolo that all budget procedures were followed. There were no shortcuts. Everything was done transparently and according to the law,” she said.

Rehema also cautioned residents against falling for what she termed as deliberate misinformation aimed at paralyzing county operations.

Nominated MCA Francis Letimalo also defended the process, stating that the budget was passed by nine out of the 18 MCAs — exceeding the legal quorum of six. He dismissed assertions of illegality as unfounded.

“The quorum was met. The Budget Committee and the plenary sessions were properly constituted. We had the chairman, vice chair, and all necessary legal thresholds in place,” Letimalo emphasized.

Meanwhile, Majority Leader and Garbatula MCA Abdirashid Ali raised alarm over what he described as a deteriorating state of security at the County Assembly chambers. He claimed that unidentified individuals armed with crude weapons were manning the assembly premises in place of police officers, allegedly to prevent some MCAs from accessing the chambers.

“This kind of lawlessness is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy,” Ali stated. “We urge the county security team to intervene and restore order. There are lawful avenues available to resolve political disputes.”

The budget row and ongoing political tensions come in the wake of a failed impeachment motion against Governor Guyo, a development that has deepened divisions within the county assembly and heightened anxieties across the county.

Despite the political wrangles, the pro-Guyo MCAs reiterated their commitment to ensuring uninterrupted service delivery to Isiolo residents.