PRESS RELEASE: MISOGYNISTIC AND UNLAWFUL UTTERANCES BY ISIOLO GOVERNOR ABDI GUYO

03 June 2025

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) notes with deep concern and disappointment the recent utterances made by Isiolo County Governor, Hon. Abdi Guyo, against Isiolo Senator, Hon. Fatuma Dullo. Speaking at a public forum, Governor Guyo sought to demean and trivialize the Senator’s constitutional role by making crude, misogynistic remarks suggesting her demand for accountability in the use of public funds was driven by personal frustrations allegedly linked to her private life.

The remarks made by the Governor are not only disrespectful and demeaning, they are emblematic of a deeper problem of gender-based violence expressed through words and attitudes that humiliate, degrade and intimidate women in leadership and public service. This conduct falls squarely within the definition of psychological violence and gender-based violence as contemplated under the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, 2015, and undermines the dignity and equality of women as enshrined in Article 27 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

These statements are unbecoming of a public officer and offend the spirit and letter of Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity, which demands that all State officers demonstrate respect for the people, bring honour to the nation and dignity to the office they hold.

Further, Section 11 of the Leadership and Integrity Act requires that public officers, including Governors, conduct themselves in a manner that avoids demeaning the office they occupy or compromising public confidence in the integrity of their office.

The Commission reiterates that the role of a Senator is clearly outlined under Article 96 of the Constitution—to represent counties and protect the interests of counties and their governments at the national level, and to provide oversight on the use of national revenue allocated to the county governments. Senator Fatuma Dullo is well within her constitutional mandate to seek accountability for the use of public funds in Isiolo County. Attempts to intimidate, shame or silence her for doing so are unlawful, unacceptable and must be met with firm institutional response.

We therefore make the following demands and call to action:

1. The Governor must issue an immediate and unqualified public apology to Senator Fatuma Dullo, the women of Kenya, and the public at large for his offensive and unlawful remarks.
2. The Governor’s reference to a young man in a sexually suggestive context is equally unacceptable; characterizing youth as mere sex objects is demeaning, unlawful, and deserving of an apology to the young people of Kenya, who are protected from such indignity by the Constitution and relevant laws.
3. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) must institute investigations into the conduct of Governor Abdi Guyo. If found culpable, he must be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
4. The Council of Governors must publicly denounce these remarks and take steps to uphold integrity and gender respect in all levels of leadership.
5. We call on all leaders—both men and women—across political and professional spheres to reject the normalisation of sexist and demeaning language directed at women and to speak out against the use of such rhetoric in public discourse.

The Commission stands in full solidarity with Senator Fatuma Dullo and commends her for her courage and commitment to transparency and accountability. No woman leader should be attacked or silenced for doing what the Constitution demands of them.

SIGNED

HON. REHEMA JALDESA

CHAIRPERSON

Hon. Rehema Jaldesa, Chairperson NGEC