Kericho Governor Eric Mutai has been impeached after Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) overwhelmingly voted to remove him from office during a special sitting on Friday afternoon.
The motion to oust Mutai was backed by 33 of the 47 MCAs, surpassing the two-thirds threshold required for impeachment. Fourteen members opposed the motion. The electronic voting process followed hours of tense debate inside the Kericho County Assembly chambers, which were packed with MCAs, lawyers, and members of the public.
The governor faces accusations of gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, and mismanagement of county resources. Proponents of the motion argued that Mutai had failed to safeguard public funds and uphold the principles of accountability, while his supporters dismissed the charges as politically motivated.
“By this vote, the assembly has exercised its constitutional mandate. The matter will now proceed to the Senate for determination,” announced the Speaker after declaring the results.
Mutai, who was present during the proceedings, was flanked by his legal team led by prominent lawyer Katwa Kigen. Earlier, his lawyers had sought to have the voting conducted by roll call rather than electronically, but the request was rejected.
This marks the second time the Kericho County boss has faced an impeachment attempt. In the previous instance, 31 MCAs voted to remove him, but the Senate overturned the decision, allowing him to remain in office.
With the latest vote, the governor’s political future now hinges on the Senate. If senators uphold the impeachment, Mutai will be permanently removed from office, paving the way for his deputy to take over. If overturned, he will survive yet another attempt to oust him.
The development has heightened political tensions in Kericho, with residents and leaders sharply divided on the governor’s leadership and the allegations against him. As the case heads to the Senate, all eyes will be on Nairobi, where Mutai will mount a spirited defense in a bid to save his career.
