Kericho Governor Erick Mutai impeached
By William Muthama, August 15, 2025Kericho Governor Erick Mutai has been impeached after 33 out of 47 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) supported a motion to remove him from office.
The special sitting, marked by a highly heated debate on Friday, August 15, 2025, saw chaos erupt immediately after the Speaker announced the results.
The impeachment motion accused the governor of gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, and mismanagement of county resources.
With 33 MCAs voting in favour and 14 against, the assembly comfortably surpassed the two-thirds majority needed to oust the county chief.
Speaker Patrick Mutai confirmed the outcome, saying: “I now declare the results, which is Yes 33, No zero, and the motion is passed. The governor stands impeached by the County Assembly of Kericho.”
Voting was conducted electronically, after an earlier attempt by the governor through his lawyer to have the session done by roll call flopped.
Legal backdrop and Senate role
This impeachment comes barely a year after Mutai was impeached by the County Assembly in October 2024 but was saved by Senators who cited the MCAs’ failure to meet the required two-thirds threshold.
During that previous attempt, Speaker Amason Kingi ordered a vote on a preliminary objection, which was supported by 34 Senators, while 14 opposed.
Mutai’s counsel argued that 31 MCAs had voted for impeachment, falling short of the threshold, and the figure could only be rounded up to 32, while the County Assembly defended its rounding.
The Senate Speaker ruled that any court injunction interfering with Parliament’s work has no effect, underscoring the separation of powers.
Next Steps
If the Senate upholds the County Assembly’s current decision, Governor Mutai will be permanently removed from office.
He attended the session alongside his lawyers, led by Katwa Kigen, and will have an opportunity to defend himself against the charges at the Senate.
The process highlights the ongoing political tensions and legal intricacies surrounding impeachment proceedings in Kenya, particularly in Kericho County.