KERICHO GOVERNOR ERICK MUTAI SURVIVES IMPEACHMENT AFTER SENATE VOTE

Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Mutai has survived an attempt to remove him from office after the Senate terminated impeachment proceedings against him. The decision followed a contentious hearing that cast doubt on the integrity of the voting process at the Kericho County Assembly.
The Senate voted to uphold a preliminary objection raised by Governor Mutai's legal team, led by Counsel Katwa Kigen. The objection centered on whether the impeachment motion had met the constitutional two-thirds threshold required for a governor's removal.
Governor Mutai's defence argued that only 31 out of the required 32 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) had voted in favour of the impeachment motion, invalidating the entire process. This was in direct contradiction to the County Assembly's legal team, which maintained that the motion had passed with the required numbers.
The Senate's decision came after a three-day hearing that was marked by dramatic testimonies and a detailed report from the ICT Authority on the electronic voting system used by the Kericho County Assembly. During the proceedings, one MCA, Hillary Kibet, alleged that he had been offered money and foreign trips to support the impeachment. He also claimed that his name appeared on the list of those who voted for the motion despite him not participating in the vote. A group of fourteen other MCAs also testified, collectively denying that they had voted for the governor's removal and raising concerns about the new electronic voting system.
The County Assembly's legal team dismissed these claims as fabricated. However, the expert report on the electronic voting system appeared to corroborate the defence’s position, leading to the Senate's final vote to terminate the proceedings.
The outcome brings an end to a high-stakes political battle and marks a significant victory for Governor Mutai. The ruling reinforces the Senate's role in safeguarding the devolution process and ensuring that impeachment motions meet strict legal and procedural requirements.