Video: Screams as Kericho MCAs Engage in Fierce Fistfights after Erick Mutai's Impeachment
- Kericho MCAs voted to impeach Governor Erick Mutai for the second time, a dramatic session that ended in pandemonium inside the county assembly
- Speaker Patrick Mutai’s announcement of the vote results sparked fistfights, shouts, and injuries as opposing camps clashed violently on the Assembly floor
- The impeachment motion accused Mutai of financial impropriety, with MCAs citing inflated costs, fictitious payments, and millions allegedly lost from county projects
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Chaos erupted at the Kericho County Assembly on Friday, August 15, after Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) voted to impeach Governor Erick Mutai for the second time.
Source: UGC
The impeachment motion, sponsored by Sigowet MCA Kiprotich Rogony, accused the county boss of abuse of office, violation of the Constitution, skewed appointments, and misappropriation of public funds.
After more than eight hours of heated debate, 33 out of 47 ward representatives voted to send Mutai home.
But the announcement of the results by Speaker Patrick Mutai sparked pandemonium inside the chamber.
Fistfights on the Kericho Assembly floor
Videos seen by TUKO.co.ke captured the moment opposing camps charged at one another after the electronic results were projected on a screen.
MCAs in support of the impeachment broke into ululations and salutes, while Mutai’s allies shouted in protest.
Within seconds, male members pushed, shoved, and grabbed each other’s ties as tempers flared in the building.
Shouts, screams and insults from women MCAs filled the chamber, forcing sergeants-at-arms to intervene.
The situation spiralled into a fistfight, with lawmakers exchanging blows on the Assembly floor as colleagues attempted to restrain them.
In the chaos that unfolded, two MCAs sustained injuries and were rushed to Siloam Hospital for treatment.
"Wewe watu watoke hapo bwana!" an official shouted as an injured MCA was led out.
The dramatic session was preceded by tension outside the Assembly, where anti-riot police lobbed teargas to disperse a crowd of Mutai’s supporters waving placards and chanting slogans against the MCAs.
Earlier in the day, an attempted arson attack was reported after a Molotov cocktail was hurled at the Assembly building.
Why was Erick Mutai impeached?
Presenting the motion, Rogony cited alleged mismanagement and financial impropriety.
He claimed that between January and July 2023, Kericho taxpayers lost over KSh85 million through fictitious payments for undelivered goods and inflated costs.
The lawmaker tabled examples that included KSh3.9 million for the maintenance of 70 houses in Kipkelion West, KSh14.9 million for animal feeds that were never supplied, and grossly overpriced items such as KSh500 sodas and tissue paper bales at KSh 3,250.
Source: Facebook
Rogony further accused the governor of nepotism, pointing to allocations under the Equaliser Locally-led Climate Action Fund, where Mutai’s home ward allegedly received KSh5.7 million while others got nothing.
He also linked Mutai to the misappropriation of KSh353 million from the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, KSh39 million under the Equaliser Kazi Mtaani Initiative, and over Sh3 million in donations meant for victims of the Londiani Junction accident.
"The governor’s actions display blatant disregard for Articles 10, 183, 201, 207, and 208 of the Constitution, as well as the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act," Rogony stated.
What next for Mutai after impeachment?
The resolution of the County Assembly will now be transmitted to the Senate for determination.
Senators will either form a special committee or debate the motion in plenary to decide Mutai’s fate.
This marks the second time in less than a year that the Kericho governor’s leadership is being tested at the national stage.
In October 2024, he survived impeachment after a majority of senators dismissed the motion, arguing the county assembly had failed to meet the threshold required by law.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
