The residents of Kericho County are currently celebrating the impeachment of Governor Erick Mutai, with some going as far as pulling down banners of President William Ruto.
The Kericho County Assembly voted to impeach Governor Mutai, with 31 out of 47 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) supporting the motion.
The governor faced charges of gross violations of the Constitution, abuse of office, and mismanagement of county resources, which included claims of misappropriation of public funds and failures in county administration.
Governor Mutai, who did not personally attend the session, opted to send a legal team to defend him, but the impeachment vote proceeded despite a court injunction meant to halt the debate.
This move has sparked legal debates, especially since Mutai’s legal team argued that the assembly defied the court order.
Nevertheless, the speaker of the assembly allowed the motion to continue, citing that 31 votes were enough to pass the impeachment, though some MCAs loyal to the governor contested the legality of the vote count, stating that 32 votes were needed to meet the required threshold.
Governor Mutai’s fate now rests with the Senate, which will review the assembly’s decision.
This impeachment marks a significant political moment, especially in a region considered a stronghold of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, reflecting growing dissatisfaction even within the Kalenjin community.
