Senate clears Kericho Governor Mutai in second impeachment attempt

By Newsflash Repoter

Kericho Governor Eric Mutai has once again survived an impeachment attempt, after the Senate voted to acquit him in a dramatic late-night session on Friday, August 29, 2025.

A total of 42 senators participated in the vote. Twenty-six ruled that the threshold for impeachment had not been met, 16 supported the motion, while one senator abstained.

The ruling nullified the earlier impeachment by the Kericho County Assembly, effectively reinstating Mutai as county boss.

County Assembly’s Case Dismissed

The impeachment motion had accused Mutai of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of the Constitution.

The County Assembly claimed that 33 members supported his removal during an electronic vote. However, Mutai’s legal team contested the figures, arguing that only 29 votes were valid and that some votes were actually in his favor.

The governor also questioned the credibility of the voting system, pointing to technical irregularities.

Senators Question Evidence

During deliberations, several senators cast doubt on the evidence presented by the County Assembly.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi highlighted data showing that some votes were cast remotely from locations outside the Assembly, including Kisumu and Nandi.

Taita Taveta Senator Danston Mungatana further argued that the constitutionally required threshold of 32 MCAs was not met, weakening the Assembly’s case.

Despite Speaker Amason Kingi’s earlier ruling that the threshold was satisfied, the final Senate vote overruled the County Assembly’s impeachment decision.

A History of Political Battles

This marks the second impeachment attempt against Governor Mutai in under a year.

The first occurred on August 15, 2025, after a heated session in the County Assembly, where chaos erupted immediately after the Speaker announced the governor’s ouster. Several MCAs were injured in the fracas, highlighting deep political divisions within the county.

Both impeachment attempts were spearheaded by rebel MCAs led by Sigowet representative Kiprotich Rogony.

Mutai Celebrates Senate Victory

After Friday’s ruling, Governor Mutai celebrated with his legal team, expressing relief that justice had prevailed. He thanked senators who supported him and accused his political rivals of attempting to destabilize Kericho County.

“This is a victory for truth and the people of Kericho,” Mutai said. “We will now focus on service delivery instead of endless political battles.”

His close allies echoed the sentiment, vowing to push back against divisive politics.

What Next for Kericho Politics?

With the impeachment attempts behind him, Mutai is expected to consolidate his political base in Kericho. However, the back-to-back challenges have exposed fractures within the county leadership.

Observers note that the battle is far from over, with rebel MCAs unlikely to retreat quietly. Analysts suggest that Mutai will need to negotiate carefully to avoid further clashes as he seeks to deliver on his development agenda.