KERICHO, Kenya – Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Mutai is once again staring down the barrel of impeachment, less than a year after narrowly surviving a similar attempt in the Senate.
A new motion tabled in the county assembly on Wednesday by Kedowa/Kimugul Ward MCA Nicholas Chumba accuses the governor of presiding over a “corrupt and opaque administration” marked by gross financial misconduct and abuse of office.
Chumba said the fresh push for impeachment is grounded in new evidence uncovered by an Ad Hoc Committee report, which the assembly adopted on Tuesday.
The report allegedly exposes fraudulent payments, irregular procurement, and misuse of public funds amounting to millions of shillings.
“This is not just a case of poor leadership; it is a complete breakdown of financial accountability. If we excuse this, we declare open season for theft in Kericho,” Chumba said during the tabling of the motion.
The latest motion revives pressure on Governor Mutai, who has been dogged by corruption claims since taking office.
It accuses him of failing to exercise oversight over county finances, authorizing payments without lawful justification, and overseeing procurement processes that violated legal procedures.
Sigowet Ward MCA Kiprotich Rogony also introduced a separate motion, echoing Chumba’s concerns and adding fresh allegations of tender irregularities and misappropriation of funds meant for development projects.
“The county has pending bills of over Ksh1 billion, yet all services and works were allegedly paid for in advance. It raises serious questions,” said Rogony.
A Familiar Battle
Governor Mutai previously faced impeachment in October 2024, following a motion led by Rogony that accused him of constitutional violations, misuse of public funds, and abuse of office.
The charges then also included explosive claims that he led a mob to seize private land in Kericho town and used it as a dumpsite without approvals.
Other allegations bordered on personal misconduct, including coercion of women.
Although 31 out of 47 MCAs voted in favour of the governor’s removal, 16 pro-Mutai members boycotted the session, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the process.
The Senate eventually dismissed the impeachment on procedural grounds, with 34 senators voting to save the governor against 10 who supported his removal.
If the motion garners the support of two-thirds of the MCAs, the matter will be forwarded to the Senate—setting the stage for a second high-stakes battle for Mutai’s political survival.
