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Kericho Governor Mutai faces second impeachment bid in under a year
Kericho Governor Erick Mutai.
A fresh motion has been tabled to impeach Kericho Governor Erick Mutai over alleged corruption, coming less than a year after Senate saved him from removal. The charges relate to Sh85 million paid to contractors for services not rendered.
The motion was tabled Wednesday by Sigowet Ward MCA Kiprotich Rogony.
In it, he alleges misappropriation of taxpayer money and donor funds meant for various projects. He claims that all goods, services and works were paid for in advance yet the county has pending bills of Sh1.1 billion.
The motion was approved by Speaker Patrick Mutai.
Dr Mutai will likely be summoned before the assembly to defend himself against the allegations preferred against him, before a decision is made on the impeachment motion with the MCAs then expected to debate and vote on it.
First impeachment bid
In October last year, Dr Mutai was impeached by 31 out of 47 Members of the Kericho County Assembly following a motion tabled by the same MCA — Mr Rogony. 16 MCAs who supported the governor boycotted the session.
In the first impeachment bid, he faced charges of gross violation of the 2010 Constitution, and other laws, abuse of office, flouting the Leadership and Integrity Act, violation of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, misappropriation of public funds, illegal drawing of county revenue, and engaging in indecent sexual acts. The first-term United Democratic Alliance (UDA) governor was also accused of forcing a woman to have unprotected sex.
He denied the allegations. He was later saved in the Senate after 34 senators voted against his ouster while 10 voted to uphold his removal from office. This is after the Senate found that the minimum threshold of 32 MCAs was not met at the County Assembly when they voted to impeach.
Dr Mutai is serving his first term under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) political party ticket.
