Isiolo speaker Roba rushes to court, gets anticipatory bail over pending arrest
Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba Quto was Friday granted anticipatory bail by the High Court, shielding him from arrest pending any potential charges that may be brought against him.
The court ordered that Roba deposit a cash bail of Sh100,000 by close of business Friday.
The court further directed that he reports to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Isiolo Police Station once every two weeks, starting immediately, until such a time that a formal charge, if any, is filed in court within 90 days.
According to the court order, should any formal charges be brought against Quto within the 90 days, he will be required to appear in court for plea taking.
In such an event, the cash bail previously deposited will be refunded to him.
The court also clarified that he shall not be arrested in connection with the anticipated offense until Roba fulfills the bail conditions by depositing the required amount.
The ruling comes amid growing speculation over alleged administrative and financial issues in the Isiolo County Assembly.
The Speaker, through lawyer Danstan Omari, disclosed that he had received credible information from officers working within the County Government of Isiolo and members of the Kenya Police that there were express instructions from Governor Abdi Guyo and his agents to arbitrarily arrest and detain him.
He argued that the alleged aim of the move was to stop a scheduled County Assembly sitting on Thursday, June 26, 2025, where impeachment proceedings against the Governor were set to take place.
Roba further argued that he had not been summoned or questioned by any police station or investigative agency in relation to any wrongdoing, describing the looming arrest as illegal, unlawful, and politically motivated.
He asserted that the threats and actions from the Governor’s office placed him under imminent threat of arrest and detention, hence his justified apprehension that his constitutional rights were under attack.
“The Applicant herein, being the Speaker of the Isiolo County government, has been subjected to immense threats from and by the Governor of Isiolo County and/or his agents and proxies with regards to the impending impeachment motion scheduled for the 26th of June 2025,” reads court papers.
Roba was last week arrested and detained in Machakos for hours over claims of threatening the Governor.
He was released on bond pending a probe.