Senators to choose between plenary or committee in Governor Mutai impeachment case
The House will decide whether the allegations are investigated through a full plenary session or by an 11-member special committee.
The Senate will today, August 20, determine the process for handling the impeachment of Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, whose political future hangs in the balance amid allegations of corruption and misconduct.
Speaker Amason Kingi has called a special sitting to formally hear the charges, which follow the county assembly’s decision to impeach the governor last week.
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The House will decide whether the allegations are investigated through a full plenary session or by an 11-member special committee.
“I have today, through a Gazette notice, invited senators for a special sitting on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to hear the charges against Eric Kipkoech Mutai, Governor of Kericho County,” reads the notice.
The notice followed submission of a formal communication from Kericho County Assembly Speaker Patrick Mutai after 33 out of 47 MCAs voted for the governor’s impeachment on August 15. The motion was spearheaded by Sigowet Ward Representative Kiprotich Rogony.
Governor Mutai faces multiple accusations including abuse of office, nepotism, illegal appointments, and unlawful dismissal of senior officials.
Additional charges include mismanagement of public resources, double payments to contractors, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act, the Constitution, and the County Governments Act.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot is expected to move a motion for the formation of the special committee.
If senators approve, the governor’s case will be investigated by the committee. If rejected, Mutai will face a plenary hearing, making the outcome more uncertain.
The governor previously survived an impeachment in October 2024, when the Senate overturned the county assembly’s vote on technical grounds, citing the failure to meet the two-thirds threshold.
This time, the assembly ensured the threshold was exceeded following a tense session in which Mutai failed to persuade MCAs to abandon the motion.
Mutai’s supporters have challenged the vote, with 18 MCAs alleging the electronic system was manipulated and petitioning the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate what they called “unauthorised internet-based digital voting system during assembly proceedings”.
Among the key allegations are inflated procurement costs, including payments of Sh85.7 million to 46 companies for goods and services not delivered.
Deputy Governor Fred Kirui, who exposed the alleged fraud, reported the matter to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, DCI, Senate, and Auditor-General, citing examples such as tissue paper purchased at Sh2,700 against a market rate of Sh25 and hand towels at Sh3,600 compared to Sh300.
The governor has rejected the claims, insisting the figures were misrepresented. Lead lawyer Katwa Kigen told the assembly that the amounts cited were for bulk orders, not single items.
“We wish to clarify that the Sh2,700 for tissue papers supplied was not for single items but 40 bales supplied of 40 pieces each,” he explained.
“The quoted price of Sh3,600 is for five dozens of hand towels supplied and not per unit as was claimed.”
The governor maintains that the matter is criminal, not political, and that the EACC and DCI are already investigating the claims, with no findings yet released.
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