All set for Kericho Governor Mutai’s Senate trial
By Kenneth Mwenda, August 26, 2025All is set for the Senate to commence the impeachment hearings of Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, with proceedings scheduled from Wednesday, August 27, to Friday, August 29, 2025.
The plenary hearings, where the full House will sit as a trial court, are expected to be tense and closely scrutinised as they determine the governor’s political future.
The process will begin on Wednesday with the formal reading of the charges against Governor Mutai. He will then be required to enter a plea, either admitting or denying culpability. The County Assembly, which initiated the impeachment process, will present its case first, detailing evidence and arguments to justify the governor’s removal. Witnesses will be cross-examined, and documents tabled to substantiate the claims.
Governor Mutai’s defence team will then respond, presenting counterarguments and witnesses, who will also undergo cross-examination. After both sides are heard, the Senate will debate the motion before casting a decisive vote on Friday. A majority of county delegations will be required to either uphold or dismiss the charges.
The charges facing Governor Mutai fall under three main categories: gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, abuse of office, and gross misconduct. This is the second time in less than a year that he has faced impeachment proceedings.
According to particulars read to the House by Speaker Amason Kingi, the County Assembly claims the following:
Gross violation of Constitution
Misappropriation of county funds through fictitious payments for goods and services never delivered or only partially supplied, totalling at least Ksh85.7 million.
Questionable expenditures, including maintenance of fifteen residential houses never serviced, undelivered agricultural inputs (soya beans and maize germ), and grossly overpriced items such as soda bottles at Ksh500 each, tissue paper at Ksh2,750 per bale, and hand towels at Ksh3,600 each.
Payments of Ksh5.1 million to companies without supporting documents.
Contractors were reportedly paid twice from retention accounts for projects completed over five years earlier.
Contravention of procurement laws, including bypassing tender committees, splitting contracts to avoid open tendering, and sanctioning advance payments despite pending county bills of Ksh1.1 billion.
Mismanagement of development funds under the NAVCDP (Ksh351 million misappropriated) and FLOCCA Fund (unequal distribution favouring his home ward).
Mishandling of over Ksh9 million raised for victims of the Londiani junction road tragedy.
Abuse of office
Nepotism and favouritism in appointments, including employing his brother as a revenue clerk, confirming the wife of an aide as a nurse, and unlawfully appointing a County Attorney (later nullified by the court with a Ksh2 million cost order).
Misleading the public by advertising vacancies for doctors, nurses, and ECDE teachers despite the county lacking the financial capacity to recruit them.
Irregular deployment of health workers without consulting the County Public Service Board, disrupting service delivery.
Gross misconduct
Leading an unlawful invasion of private land in Kericho town, demolishing a fence, and designating the area as a county dumpsite without approval from the National Environment Management Authority, without gazettement, and in defiance of a court order.
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 Senate trial is expected to be closely watched, as it will ultimately decide the fate of the Kericho Governor.