Kericho Governor Erick Mutai has plea not guilty to a series of charges against him, including gross violations of the constitution, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.
The charges were presented by Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye, marking the beginning of a formal hearing of the case before the Senate plenary.
Following the reading of the charges, the involved parties will first address preliminary issues before making their opening statements.
Subsequently, the Kericho County Assembly will outline its case against the governor.
The county assembly has called on the Senate to ensure the protection of a witness who has alleged abuse, claiming she was coerced into sexual acts with Governor Mutai.
Through lawyer Elias Mutuma, the assembly stated that they have reached out to the Senate Speaker, requesting measures to safeguard the witness’s identity and to allow her to testify via video link.
“You will see from the charges presented that one of our witnesses is a young woman who will testify about instances of sexual exploitation,” Mutuma explained.
He emphasized the importance of protecting her identity, stating, “We have submitted a request to ensure this witness is safeguarded from public exposure.”
Despite the sensitive nature of the case, Mutuma expressed a willingness to facilitate a meeting between the witness and the governor’s legal team before her testimony, allowing them to understand who she is.
“We can arrange for the counsel and the governor to meet the witness ahead of the testimony so they can identify her,” he stated.
As the proceedings unfold, the focus will be on maintaining the integrity of the witness while ensuring a fair and transparent process for both the accuser and the accused.
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