Isiolo MCAs Reject Allegations of Fraudulent Budget Approval
Isiolo, Kenya – July 31, 2025: Members of the Isiolo County Assembly (MCAs) have strongly denied claims that they approved the county’s Ksh 7 billion budget for the 2025–2026 financial year through irregular processes. The rebuttal, led by Deputy Speaker David Lemantile of Oldonyiro Ward, comes amid accusations from a rival faction of legislators allied to former Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba Qoto. Lemantile described the allegations as politically motivated attempts to undermine peace and development efforts in the county.
Speaking during a press briefing, Lemantile insisted that the budget process complied fully with legal and procedural requirements. The budget process followed the law to the letter. Let no one mislead the people of Isiolo for their own selfish political gain. We must remain united and focused on service delivery, he said. Vice Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Rehema Abdikadir, confirmed that the budget underwent thorough review and lawful approval, cautioning residents against misinformation aimed at disrupting county operations. Nominated MCA Francis Letimalo emphasized that the budget passed with a quorum of nine out of eighteen MCAs, surpassing the legal requirement.
The pro-Guyo legislators also raised concerns about security at the County Assembly chambers, citing reports of unidentified individuals allegedly manning the premises with crude weapons to block access to some MCAs. Majority Leader Abdirashid Ali condemned the incident and called on county security teams to restore order. Despite the political tensions, the pro-Guyo MCAs reiterated their commitment to uninterrupted service delivery and urged residents to channel any grievances through lawful means. The debate over the budget follows a failed impeachment motion against Governor Abdi Guyo, which has heightened divisions within the assembly and attracted national attention.