Kericho Governor Erick Mutai is fighting for his political survival as damning evidence of alleged extortion, ghost projects, and financial impropriety emerged in his Senate impeachment hearing.
The proceedings, which kicked off on August 27, painted a grim picture of how the governor allegedly coerced senior county officials into parting with millions of shillings under duress.
Former County Executive Committee (CEC) member Edna Tanui testified that she was dismissed after refusing to continue sending money to the governor. She claimed that over a two-year period, she personally contributed at least Ksh1.5 million to his repeated requests, often made through personal calls and aides.
“The requests were made through phone calls. You are told there is something urgent to attend to, then asked for Ksh10,000, Ksh20,000, or even hundreds of thousands,” Tanui told the Senate.
Millions Lost Through Dubious Payments
Advocate Elisha Ongaya, appearing before the Senate on behalf of the Kericho County Assembly, accused the administration of making irregular double retention payments totaling Ksh8.4 million to eight companies.
He also flagged the controversial Ksh9 million Londiani accident victims fund, which remains unaccounted for despite public outcry.
The governor was further accused of invading private land for a dumping site, inflating costs of house renovations to Ksh2 million, and abandoning the project altogether.
Governor Mutai Defends Himself
In his defense, Governor Mutai dismissed the charges as politically engineered, claiming the impeachment motion was designed to sabotage his leadership. He alleged that critical reports were withheld until after the motion was filed, denying him a fair chance to respond.
He also accused the County Assembly Speaker of pushing a personal agenda, suggesting that the impeachment is a calculated plan to pave the way for succession politics.
The Senate will continue to deliberate on the evidence, with Mutai’s fate now hanging in the balance.
