From hopes to hostility: The tumultuous tenure of Kericho Governor Mutai

When Erick Mutai took the oath of office as Kericho’s second governor in 2022, he promised efficiency, transparency and a fresh start for the tea-rich highland county.

 Less than three years later, his tenure has descended into political strife, corruption claims, legal battles, and impeachment by the county assembly—a fiasco that deeply divided Kericho.

The Senate will now consider, for the second time, whether to uphold impeachment by the county assembly.

Mutai began his term with ambitious commitments: to improve healthcare, open rural roads, and expand youth empowerment programmes. But within two years, accusations of mismanagement began to pile up.

MCAs accused him of gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office and misuse of public resources.

 In October 2024, Sigowet MCA Kiprotich Rogony introduced an impeachment motion.

The charges included irregular procurement deals, diversion of departmental funds and launching the Equaliser Kazi Mtaani programme without budget approval or public participation.

 The administration also faced criticism over its handling of Sh9 million in emergency funds raised after the Londiani truck crash in June 2023, which killed more than 50 people.

 Allegations that the money was unaccounted for further eroded public trust.

Despite a court injunction barring debate until a petition was heard, the assembly pressed ahead with impeachment. Tempers flared on the floor and 31 MCAs voted to remove Mutai from office.

 In the Senate, the impeachment was closely watched nationwide. Senators heard days of arguments, with MCAs pointing to procurement irregularities and alleged misuse of funds, while Mutai’s lawyers dismissed the charges as unsubstantiated.

 The governor also argued the assembly had not met the required two-thirds threshold.

 In the end, he survived—not because the allegations were disproved, but because the Senate ruled the county assembly had failed to meet constitutional standards for removal.

 Thirty-four senators voted to terminate the proceedings on procedural grounds.

 The reprieve was short-lived. Last week, Rogony returned with a new motion, this time bolstered by additional allegations.

 On that occasion, 33 MCAs voted in favour of impeachment, comfortably clearing the two-thirds threshold, and referred the matter to the Senate.

 The fresh allegations accused Mutai of authorising fictitious payments of Sh85 million to 46 companies for undelivered goods and services.

 Mutai dismissed the charges as a witch-hunt orchestrated by political rivals led by his deputy, Fred Kirui, who has since written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission calling for investigations.

 In a defiant counterattack, Mutai called for the dissolution of the county government—a move widely seen as reactionary.

 His supporters also launched a signature drive to disband the assembly. But the MCAs pressed ahead with their removal push.

 Disputed process

 Mutai says the impeachment process was illegal and predetermined. He alleged that nine assembly staff had access to the voting system in advance.

 “At the beginning, it started with six votes, then jumped to 20-something and suddenly to 33. The results were already decided before the process began,” he claimed.

 The governor also asked why the assembly relied on an SMS-based voting system instead of a physical count of the 47 members present.

  “If the assembly feels I should be impeached, I am ready to go home with my head high, where fairness and justice are done or seen to be done,” he said. “I am not afraid.”

 The silence from Kericho’s political leadership has raised questions over whether Mutai has been abandoned. No elected leader has publicly defended him, and no influential national figure has rallied to his side. Once seen as close to impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Mutai now appears politically isolated.

 His impeachment has sparked speculation that his woes may reflect not only local county politics but also shifting national power alignments.

 On Saturday, at a women’s empowerment event in Kipkelion West, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot broke his silence. He promised to write to the EACC and other agencies to investigate the claims of corruption.

  “I am going to write to the EACC on Monday to have all those mentioned—whether big or small—face legal action,” he said. “Those who misused public resources must be prosecuted and compelled to surrender any proceeds of corruption.”

 Mutai’s future now rests, once again, with the Senate.

But with deepening allegations, an emboldened assembly and silence from his political allies, the embattled governor faces the toughest battle of his political career — one that may determine whether he survives or falls to the shifting winds of county and national politics.