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Senate affirms readiness to proceed with Governor Mutai impeachment
26th August, 2025 06:32 PM
The Senate is set to commence impeachment hearings for Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, with proceedings scheduled to run from Wednesday, August 27, to Friday, August 29, 2025, as the upper house prepares to sit as a trial court to determine the Governor’s political fate.
In a statement posted on Parliament’s Facebook account on August 26, 2025, Parliament confirmed that all preparations have been completed for the high-stakes trial that will see the full Senate House scrutinise charges against Governor Mutai.
“All is set for the Senate to commence the impeachment hearings of Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, with proceedings scheduled to run between Wednesday, 27th and Friday, 29th August 2025,” the statement read.
Trial procedure
According to Parliament, the impeachment process will follow a structured format beginning with the formal reading of charges on Wednesday, when Governor Mutai will be required to enter a plea.
“The process will formally begin on Wednesday with the reading of the charges against Governor Mutai. At that stage, the Governor will be required to enter a plea, either admitting or denying culpability,” Parliament outlined.
Following the plea, the Kericho County Assembly, which initiated the impeachment process, will present its case first, with legal teams expected to table documents and cross-examine witnesses to substantiate their allegations.
“He is expected to counter the accusations, provide his own witnesses that will also be subjected to cross-examination. After both sides have been heard, the Senate will debate the Motion before casting a decisive vote on Friday, 29th August. It will require a majority of delegations voting by county to either uphold or dismiss the charges,” the statement added.
Charges
The charges against Governor Mutai centre on three main grounds: gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.
“According to particulars read to the House last week by Speaker Amason Kingi, the County Assembly alleges that the Governor presided over a series of financial irregularities that drained public resources and undermined service delivery,” the statement reads.
On the charge of abuse of office, the Governor faces accusations of nepotism and favouritism in appointments, including hiring his brother as a revenue clerk and confirming his aide’s wife as a nurse ahead of long-serving contract staff.
Second impeachment attempt
This is the second time in less than a year that the Governor is facing impeachment proceedings before the Senate.
The current proceedings will be held as plenary hearings, as Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot’s initial motion to establish a select committee failed when Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo declined to second it.
“Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot had initially moved a Motion to establish a select committee to handle the proposed removal through impeachment, but it collapsed after Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo declined to second it, paving the way for the full plenary hearing,” the statement concluded.
