Embattled Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Mutai before Senate on August 29, 2025. Photo by PBU 
By Andrew Mbuva
The Senate proceedings into the impeachment of Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Mutai took a dramatic twist after a witness alleged that Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) were enticed with bribes and foreign trips to back the Motion.
Appearing before the Senate, MCA Hillary Kibet claimed he was offered Ksh.200,000 and trips to Dubai and Rwanda to support the Governor’s ouster. He further alleged that the mover of the Motion, MCA Weldon Rogony, promised him a powerful committee chairmanship if he aligned himself with the plot. Kibet insisted he never voted, yet was shocked to find his name listed among the 33 MCAs who allegedly supported the impeachment.
Kibet cited an audio recording of a phone conversation purportedly with Rogony, who allegedly admitted voting on his behalf. However, the County Assembly’s legal team dismissed the claims as fabrications, saying the phone number did not belong to Rogony.
Senators pressed Kibet on why he failed to vote against or abstain as permitted by Standing Orders, instead choosing to sit out the process. They also questioned the propriety of secretly recording a colleague, warning that such an act may contravene the Data Protection Act.
The hearing briefly turned light-hearted when MCA Amos Kimtai asked to testify in his local dialect, arguing it would help him express himself better. Temporary Speaker Veronica Maina rejected the request, insisting on English or Kiswahili. Kimtai later admitted he had assured Governor Mutai of his opposition to the Motion but contradicted himself under cross-examination, raising doubts about his credibility.
In a show of solidarity, fourteen MCAs testified collectively, disowning the vote and criticising the electronic voting system introduced in the County Assembly. They claimed they were neither trained to use the system nor willing participants, alleging malice in the process that saw them recorded as having voted.
Earlier, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed that the ICT Authority had submitted an expert report on the disputed electronic voting system. The Senate will hear the findings before closing arguments.
The high-stakes proceedings continue this afternoon, with Senators expected to deliver a final verdict on Governor Mutai’s fate later in the evening.
