The Kericho County Assembly descended into chaos on Thursday, August 15, after Members of County Assembly (MCAs) engaged in a physical confrontation following the impeachment of Governor Erick Mutai. The dramatic session turned violent immediately after Speaker announced that Mutai had been impeached for a second time, sparking mayhem inside the chambers.
Video footage captured during the heated proceedings showed rival MCAs exchanging blows, hurling objects, and shouting as the assembly floor turned into a battlefield. Screams echoed through the chamber, forcing security officers and staff to intervene. Several MCAs sustained injuries in the melee and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The impeachment motion, sponsored by Sigowet MCA Kiprotich Rogony, garnered overwhelming support. A total of 33 out of 47 MCAs voted in favor of removing Governor Mutai, while 14 opposed. The outcome surpassed the two-thirds majority threshold required to impeach a sitting county boss.
This latest development marks the governor’s second impeachment in less than a year. In the previous attempt, Mutai narrowly survived after the Senate overturned his removal despite 31 MCAs voting against him at the county assembly. With the new vote, the case now moves to the Senate, where Mutai will be given an opportunity to defend himself once again. If the Senate upholds the assembly’s decision, he will be permanently ousted from office; if not, he will retain his seat.
The tense atmosphere that culminated in the chaotic assembly session had been building since morning. Reports indicate that there was an attempt to set the assembly building on fire, while rival groups clashed in the streets. Police were deployed in large numbers to prevent further unrest, but the charged political climate still spilled over into the house.
Governor Mutai’s impeachment highlights deepening political divisions in Kericho, with his opponents accusing him of mismanagement and his supporters dismissing the proceedings as politically motivated. As the matter now heads to the Senate, all eyes will be on whether Mutai survives yet another test of his leadership or is permanently shown the door.
