Advocate Elisha Ongoya has made a return to the Senate to represent the Kericho County Assembly in their impeachment case against Governor Erick Mutai.

This announcement was made by Kapsoit MCA Paul Chirchir Tarimbo, who took to his social media on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to inform the public, with him taking photos with him just to confirm.

Ongoya, a lawyer and university lecturer, has built a reputation as one of the most formidable legal minds in impeachment proceedings. He first rose to prominence during the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, where his arguments captured national attention, especially when he cornered the mover of the motion and Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse after failing to produce satisfactory details on his motion.

Over the years, Ongoya has been a central figure in high-profile impeachment cases. He was actively involved in the dramatic battles between former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and her county assembly, consistently appearing before the Senate to defend her.

More recently, he successfully represented Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo, where the Senate dismissed the impeachment on grounds that the County Assembly lacked evidence of sittings that preceded the removal attempt.

Known for his commanding courtroom presence, Ongoya has become a household name whenever impeachment motions reach the Senate. His distinctive bald head and thick moustache are instantly recognisable, and his eloquence often keeps the country glued to their screens during such proceedings.

Erick Mutai’s impeachment

In the Kericho case, Ongoya will be squaring off against Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen, who will be representing Governor Erick Mutai. Kigen is no stranger to the matter, having successfully defended the governor in October last year when the Senate nullified an earlier impeachment attempt.

 At the time, he convinced the House that the vote taken by the County Assembly had failed to meet the constitutional two-thirds threshold required for removal from office.

The Senate has since ruled that this latest case will be handled through plenary, paving the way for a full House debate. This comes just days after the Kericho County Assembly voted to impeach Governor Mutai on Friday, August 15, 2025.

The governor has dismissed the ouster as a politically motivated move engineered by the County Assembly Speaker, whom he accuses of plotting to clear the path for his own gubernatorial ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.