Justina Wamae claims higher forces behind Kericho Governor Mutai’s impeachment push
By Mabonga Makhanu, August 30, 2025Former Roots Party deputy presidential running mate Justina Wamae has weighed in on the failed impeachment of Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, suggesting that the move to oust the county boss was not driven by local ward representatives but by forces beyond the assembly.
Her remarks came shortly after the Senate once again voted to save Governor Mutai on Saturday, August 30, 2025, ruling that Kericho MCAs had failed to meet the constitutional two-thirds threshold required to remove a governor from office. This marked the second time Mutai survived an impeachment attempt in less than a year.
According to Wamae, the entire process was never a genuine push by the MCAs but a plot engineered by powerful individuals at higher offices.
She argued that the claims of Senate extortion that surfaced during the proceedings only worsened the matter and exposed the underhand dealings behind the motion.
She further drew parallels with the political tribulations facing Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, stating that the wave of politically facilitated ousters appears to be losing its grip. In her view, leaders who have been living under the constant threat of orchestrated removal, like Wamatangi, should take comfort in the apparent collapse of such schemes.
“The Kericho governor’s ouster was not an MCA agenda but rather a high-level push. The previous claim of Senate extortion made it worse; things went unexpectedly. The high-level facilitated wave is fast fading, and those who dwell in constant fear, like WaMatangi, should rejoice,“ Wamae stated.
Impeachment
Friday, August 29, 2025, marked the second time Erick Mutai successfully won against an impeachment attempt
This latest bid to oust him failed after the Senate, by a majority vote, determined that the County Assembly did not meet the required threshold to remove the governor.
In a majority vote, 26 senators confirmed that the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) did not achieve the two-thirds majority needed for impeachment.
Meanwhile, 16 senators voted to affirm that the Kericho County Assembly had the necessary numbers to pass the motion, with one senator abstaining from the vote.
The County Assembly had accused the governor of misconduct, misuse of public resources, unlawful staff dismissals, and authorising questionable payments.