Tension boiled over at the Kericho County Assembly on Thursday as Members of County Assembly (MCAs) engaged in fistfights moments after voting to impeach Governor Erick Mutai for the second time in less than a year.
The heated special sitting, which had been marked by sharp exchanges and heightened emotions, descended into chaos shortly after Speaker Patrick Mutai announced the results of the motion. Out of 47 MCAs, 33 voted in favor of Mutai’s removal, surpassing the required threshold.
Videos that emerged from the chambers showed MCAs exchanging blows, shouting at each other, and some being physically restrained by colleagues. Women MCAs could be heard hurling insults, while sergeants-at-arms made frantic attempts to restore order.
The impeachment motion was tabled by Sigowet Ward MCA Kiprotich Rogony, who accused Governor Mutai of gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, and mismanagement of county resources. These allegations mirror those that Mutai faced during a similar impeachment attempt in October 2024.
The governor’s fate now rests with the Senate, which is expected to convene a hearing to determine whether to uphold or overturn the assembly’s decision. If upheld, Mutai will be the latest governor to be ousted from office under Kenya’s devolution framework.
Notably, the impeachment proceeded despite a court order issued earlier this week barring the assembly from debating the motion until a petition against it was heard. MCAs in support of the motion argued that the people of Kericho could not afford to wait any longer, insisting that decisive leadership action was necessary.
Governor Mutai, in a swift response, condemned the move as illegal and politically orchestrated. “This impeachment is a witch-hunt. It is driven by political interests and not the welfare of Kericho residents,” he said, vowing to challenge the decision both in the Senate and through the courts.
As the county now braces for the Senate process, the political standoff has deepened divisions in Kericho, with residents and leaders split over Mutai’s leadership and the assembly’s decision to push through with his removal.
