The Senate will conduct a full plenary hearing into the impeachment of Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, abandoning an earlier proposal to establish a special committee to investigate the charges.
The decision was reached after Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo declined to second a motion by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, which had sought to form an 11-member special committee to handle the matter.
“There is no process or route that is flawed. It is members to determine the route they want,” said Cheruiyot as he moved the motion.
“Reading the mood of the House, I beg to move the Motion for the formation of a special committee.”
However, without a seconder, the motion could not proceed, prompting Speaker Amason Kingi to rule that the Senate will instead hear the impeachment case in a full plenary session scheduled for August 27, 28, and 29, 2025.
Speaker Kingi directed the Clerk of the Senate to issue formal invitations to the involved parties by August 21, require responses by August 25, and circulate all received documents to Senators by the close of business on August 26.
This marks the second time Governor Mutai has faced an impeachment trial before the Senate.
He survived an earlier attempt in October 2024 after the Kericho County Assembly failed to meet the constitutional two-thirds voting threshold.
On August 15, 2025, 33 out of 47 members of the County Assembly voted in favour of the latest impeachment motion.
The motion was initiated by Sigowet Ward MCA Kiprotich Rogony.
The plenary hearing is expected to be a high-stakes political and legal showdown, with the governor's political future hanging in the balance.
