Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Mutai has broken his silence on the unfolding political turmoil in the County Assembly, dismissing the recent impeachment efforts against him as a calculated distraction aimed at crippling development and subverting the will of the electorate.
Addressing the press at the Kericho County Headquarters, Dr. Mutai voiced strong concerns over what he described as a betrayal of public trust by elements within the county leadership.
He accused certain individuals of disguising political sabotage as lawful oversight, warning that such tactics undermine effective governance.
“This is a sad day for Kericho. The county stands at a crossroads. What we are witnessing is not oversight; it is obstruction. It is not accountability; it is sabotage. There are people who have chosen to sabotage our development agenda under the guise of checks and balances. Their goal is not to strengthen governance but to paralyse it,” he said.
The governor directed sharp criticism at the County Assembly leadership, accusing them of systematically frustrating the executive arm since his administration took office in September 2022.
The governor claimed that budgetary provisions for key sectors, including agriculture, health, infrastructure, and water, had been arbitrarily altered, resulting in the stalling of flagship projects earmarked in both the County Integrated Development Plan and Annual Development Plans.
“These alterations to critical budget items were not made in the interest of prudent financial management but rather to serve narrow political interests. The people of Kericho are being shortchanged as vital services are being delayed or denied altogether. What we are dealing with is not a fiscal debate; it is a deliberate effort to derail the transformation agenda of this county,” he stated.
Speaking to the Kenya News Agency, Dr. Mutai accused the County Assembly of intentionally stalling the formation of statutory panels required for the recruitment of critical officials, including members of the County Public Service Board and the County Secretary.
He claimed the delays had effectively crippled key governance functions and jeopardised the stability of county institutions.
“The refusal to approve these appointments is not based on merit or legal concerns; it is a targeted political assault intended to bring government operations to a standstill. Such actions are reckless and deeply irresponsible, especially when service delivery to the public is at stake,” he said.
The governor also took issue with recent disciplinary letters served to select Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), suggesting that the move was part of a broader scheme to manipulate the outcome of the impeachment motion against him.
“The Assembly has been turned into a campaign platform. If the Speaker harbors ambitions to contest the governorship, let him do so openly at the ballot and not behind clandestine motions and unprocedural ambushes. The people of Kericho deserve better than this brand of petty politics,” he said.
While condemning the impeachment move as politically driven and devoid of merit, he called on MCAs to rise above factional interests and remember their Constitutional responsibility to represent the people and not to act as agents of deceitful political games.
“I will not be held hostage by selfish political ambitions. I was elected by the people to serve them with integrity and focus, not to play games with their hopes, livelihoods, and future. My mandate comes from the people of Kericho, and I intend to honour it,” he affirmed.
Despite the escalating political tension, Dr. Mutai reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to delivering on their development agenda.
He urged residents of Kericho to remain alert and resist what he described as backdoor schemes, aimed at destabilising the county’s leadership and hijacking the democratic process.
By Gilbert Mutai
