NAIROBI, Kenya – Kericho Governor Eric Mutai has survived a second impeachment attempt after the Senate dismissed charges brought against him by the County Assembly, paving the way for him to continue his tenure.
Mutai, who walked out of the Senate on Friday a free man, thanked senators for what he described as a fair and transparent hearing and urged leaders in the county to end political wrangles and focus on development.
“I am not perfect; I have my flaws just like any other human being. But God has given us another opportunity to go back to Kericho and work for the people,” Mutai said, adding that the outcome proved that “God is a God of second chances.”
The governor, flanked by family, supporters, and his legal team led by lawyer Katwa Kigen, credited their support—alongside prayer vigils held by pastors—for helping him weather the political storm.
“The Senate gave us time, they listened to our debates, and they were able to make a rational judgment. We did not lobby; we just presented our arguments, and we thank the Senate for upholding our victory,” he said.
Power Struggles Ahead of 2027
Mutai accused rival county leaders of plotting to destabilize his administration in anticipation of the 2027 elections.
“What we have in Kericho County is a power struggle for those politicians who feel that they cannot face the governor in 2027. These games are not for the people of Kericho; they are for personal interests,” he charged.
Still, he struck a conciliatory note, calling for respect, peace, and unity among MCAs, MPs, and other elected leaders.
“It is time now to put our differences aside, pull together as a county and move forward as one because we must build Kericho,” Mutai said. “We only have one financial year before the next election cycle, but through God’s grace, we will be able to rebuild.”
Senate Dismisses Charges
The Senate voted 26 to 16 to uphold that the County Assembly had failed to meet the constitutional two-thirds threshold required to remove a governor, while one senator abstained.
This marks the second time in less than a year that Mutai has survived impeachment on procedural grounds.
In October 2024, a similar motion collapsed after his lawyers demonstrated that MCAs fell short of the minimum 32 votes required.
The latest impeachment motion accused the governor of abuse of office, financial impropriety, unlawful dismissals, and fictitious payments. After three days of hearings, senators ruled the case unproven.
Mutai now faces the task of reconciling a divided county political landscape, even as his opponents regroup ahead of 2027.
