Kericho Governor Escapes Impeachment, for the Second Time!

By Mwaniki Justin

The Common Pulse | August 2025

In a gripping political drama unfolding over three intense days (August 27–29), Kericho Governor Erick Mutai once again avoided removal from office, as the Senate ruled the County Assembly had failed to meet the constitutional two-thirds threshold for impeachment.

The Context and Charges

The impeachment motion had been tabled by the Kericho County Assembly on August 15, with a convincing 33 out of 47 MCAs voting in favor. The accusations against Governor Mutai included:

• Gross violation of the law and misappropriation of county funds, allegedly involving KSh 85.7 million in fictitious payments and misused NAVCDP funds exceeding KSh 351 million.

• Abuse of office through illegal appointments, dismissals, and interference with Assembly oversight.

• Gross misconduct, including orchestrating a mob to invade private land against a court order.

Defense Strategy and Technical Hurdles

Mutai’s legal team, led by Katwa Kigen, challenged the credibility of the electronic voting system used during the Assembly vote, suggesting system vulnerabilities and insufficient training for MCAs. Witnesses testified they hadn’t actually cast votes despite records indicating otherwise.

Senate Ruling

In the plenary vote:

• 26 Senators ruled the impeachment threshold had not been met.

• 16 Senators supported the motion.

• 1 Senator abstained.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi declared the proceedings immediately terminated, noting the constitutional requirement was not satisfied, thus ending the impeachment bid.

Governor’s Response

After the ruling, Governor Mutai expressed gratitude to his legal team and the 18 MCAs who stood by him. He called for unity among Kericho leaders to focus on development in the remaining two years of his term.

This marks the second time within a year that Mutai has dodged impeachment, first in October 2024, when only 31 MCAs supported the motion, just one short of the required threshold.

The repeated impeachment attempts underscore deep political rifts within Kericho County, raising questions about the motives behind the motions, whether they were rooted in governance concerns or political maneuvering.

Governor Mutai’s survival suggests his alliances remain strong, particularly with factions favoring continuity. For his critics, however, the outcome may feel like justice deferred, not served.