By Reporter
Isiolo Governor Mr. Abdi Guyo is in the eye of a constitutional storm after he told the illegal occupants of a private land to defy court orders and rebuild on the private land after they were successfully evicted. He also declared he gave permission as the Governor to civilians to burn anybody who came with court orders along with their bulldozers.
In a video clip that has gone viral on Kenyan social media platforms, Guyo says he will preside over a funds drive to raise funds to get those evicted after court order resettled on the same land in blatant defiance of High Court orders.
Four illegal occupants of a private parcel of land in Isiolo town were ordered to be evicted after a successful court battle by the plot owner, Mr. Abdi Noor Umar.
The Environment and Land High Court clearly ruled that Mr. Abdi was the bona-fide owner, and it declared that continued occupation by others on Land Parcel Block 2/ No 11 at Checheles within Isiolo township was unlawful and that the same constitutes trespass.
The High Court also directed illegal occupants be evicted under the supervision of the OCS Isiolo, and that the costs and expenses occasioned by the eviction process be borne by the illegal occupants.
The police upon receipt of the court judgement and order wrote to the evictees, including Samson Namudnang Edome,, Abdullahi Guyo C/O Rahma Guyo, Nura Diba Bila and Stephen Eloto Edome, to inform them.
The eviction notice, signed by the OCS Isiolo Francis Kairu, read in parts, “you are hereby notified that a court order was issued by ELC court Meru vide ELC NO 29 of 2019 on the 17th January 2024, and that the court directed that you be evicted from the parcel of land namely Block 2 No. 11 located at Checheles in Isiolo county. You have been granted seven days from now to give vacant possession of the said land or be forcibly evicted . Be advised accordingly,”
And last week, the plot owner in the presence of the auctioneer and police successfully evicted the illegal occupiers. After the eviction was completed, the Isiolo Governor arrived on scene, and displaying displeasure , making emotional speeches, and encouraging those evicted to defiantly reconstruct their houses ‘on the very same land.’
A near confrontation, which could have turned bloody, erupted as Governor Guyo berated the Isiolo Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in a very disturbingly degrading manner. The OCS, a Mr. Francis Kairu, maintained dignified calm, and allowed himself to be moved safely away by a concerned female officer.
In the various video clips captured that went viral, the Governor is seen threatening the OCS with dire consequences, claiming he had turned a rogue officer.
“This one has become a bad man. I will report him even to the president. I will not entertain police officers based in Isiolo presiding over evictions.” he said.
He then stormed the OCPDs office with a large crowd, where he threatened police officers again and declared that he will mobilize the residents to burn any bulldozer in Isiolo used in demolition of houses in the area.
Attempts by the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) to explain to him that he was acting on court order that were endorsed procedurally by the County Security Committee fell on a deaf ear. Guyo shouted at the Police Officers, ‘who has allowed you to preside over the demolition of structures here?’
He went on to say that going forward, there will be no eviction carried out in Isiolo County. Even if there is a court order, we will not allow any evictions in Isiolo.
And we are going to rebuild the houses on the same land where our people have been evicted. From today, if the police preside over demolition of premises, we will burn them. This blatant disrespect of court orders and the role and procedures of the National Police Service is arguably in breach of Kenya’s constitutional order, and its doctrine of separation of powers.
Clearly there is a strong case to be made that Governor Guyo has overstepped his mandate in a hastily arranged campaign to portray himself as a one with sympathy for evictees.
Add Comment