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Battle lines drawn in Kericho as Charles Keter launches comeback bid for governor
Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter during the interview at his office in Nairobi on February 11, 2022.
As the year draws to a close, political temperatures in Kericho County continue to rise, signalling an intense contest ahead after former Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter declared his intention to vie for the gubernatorial seat.
Mr Keter, who served as Cabinet Secretary for Energy during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s two terms, will be making a second stab at the county’s top seat in the 2027 General Election.
His declaration comes barely two months after County Assembly Speaker Dr Patrick Mutai threw his hat into the ring for the gubernatorial position.
Although Deputy Governor Fred Kirui is yet to publicly declare his intentions, he is said to be assembling a political war chest in readiness to challenge his boss, Dr Mutai, during the UDA nominations in 2027.
Stirring the political hornet’s nest, Mr Keter publicly confirmed at a function in Ainamoi Constituency that he would be in the race for the seat currently held by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Governor Dr Erick Mutai.
“All factors being constant and God willing, I will be in the race for the gubernatorial position in the 2027 General Election on a UDA ticket. I am well prepared for the race,” said Mr Keter, who is an adviser to President William Ruto on the Great Lakes region.
Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter during a past interview.
“I look forward to the good people of Kericho County rallying behind my candidature when the time comes. I have a sound development agenda for this great county,” he added.
Mr Keter dismissed regional balance concerns, saying they should not override leadership quality.
“Issues of regional balance should not cloud efforts to have good leaders in office. In any event, I was born in Bureti Constituency, my parents relocated to Belgut Constituency, and I am a resident of Chepsir in Kipkelion East Constituency,” he said on Saturday.
His entry has reignited debate in a county that has experienced political turbulence over the past three years, with Governor Mutai surviving two impeachment attempts by Members of the County Assembly.
Governor Mutai has, however, insisted he will focus on rolling out his development agenda rather than engaging in political sideshows.
Kericho Governor Eric Mutai.
On April 14, 2022, UDA party nominations, then political newcomer Dr Mutai handed Mr Keter a stunning defeat, effectively ending the latter’s 20-year political career that included stints as Kericho Senator and long-serving Belgut MP.
In what was widely viewed as a political coronation, Dr Mutai garnered 126,038 votes, Mr Keter polled 60,342 to finish second, then Deputy Governor Lily Ng’ok received 9,377 votes, while Prof James Sang garnered 2,987 votes in the race to succeed Prof Paul Chepkwony, who was serving his final term.
Dr Mutai achieved the feat after teaming up with fellow contender Engineer Fred Kirui, who settled for the running mate position and later became Deputy Governor.
In the August 9, 2022, General Election, Dr Mutai sailed through to become the county’s second governor.
In late November, County Assembly Speaker Dr Patrick Mutai also declared his bid to unseat Governor Mutai in the next General Election.
“It is important that I make this announcement early: come 2027, I will be seeking the people’s support to become the third Governor of Kericho County,” the Speaker said at a function in Ainamoi Constituency last month.
“I have served Kericho County as a County Executive Committee member for two terms and currently as Speaker of the County Assembly, which has prepared me adequately for the gubernatorial position,” he added.
The Speaker said his experience had given him a deep understanding of devolution and positioned him to effectively implement development programmes.
His declaration has lent credence to claims that he was the driving force behind impeachment attempts against Governor Mutai, both of which were dismissed by the Senate within a year.
Governor Mutai survived impeachment motions at the Senate on October 14, 2024, and August 26, 2025, sending MCAs back to the drawing board.
Political tensions heightened after Governor Mutai publicly challenged the Speaker to face him at the ballot.
“To the Speaker, if you want to be Governor of Kericho, face me at the ballot, not through motions and manipulations. Let the people decide, not the corridors of conspiracy,” the governor said when the second impeachment motion was tabled in September 2025.
After surviving the second impeachment, Dr Mutai said at Litein Trading Centre: “They have flogged me politically like a snake in a bid to terminate my political career, but God, the truth and the people are on our side.”
The declarations by Mr Keter and Dr Patrick Mutai come against the backdrop of failed reconciliation efforts led by clergy, particularly between the Governor and his deputy, whose relationship has remained strained for three years.
Deputy Governor Kirui skipped an October 2025 reconciliation meeting brokered by bishops Alfred Rotich (Kericho Catholic Diocese), Ernest Ngeno (ACK), Robert Langat (African Gospel Church), and the Kipsigis Myoot Council of Elders.
He also failed to attend another meeting at the International Training Centre on the outskirts of Kericho last month, which was attended by MPs Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi), Nelson Koech (Belgut), Woman Representative Beatrice Kemei, Speaker Dr Patrick Mutai, and County Assembly Majority Leader Philip Rono.
Dr Mutai’s victory over Mr Keter in 2022 was bolstered by a deal that saw Engineer Kirui drop his bid and take up the deputy governor slot, an agreement brokered by, among others, former Roads Minister Franklin Bett.
Kipkelion West MP Hillary Koskei has since rallied behind Speaker Patrick Mutai in the evolving political landscape.
“You should move around the county and rally the people behind you. The gubernatorial seat is not reserved for one individual or people from one zone,” Mr Koskei said.
With multiple heavyweight contenders positioning themselves, Kericho’s political contest is shaping up as one of the most closely watched races in the South Rift as the country heads into 2026.
