Kericho County’s assembly voted on Friday to remove Governor Erick Mutai from office for the second time in less than a year, endorsing an impeachment motion by a unanimous 33-member tally. The initiative, sponsored by Sigowet Ward MCA Kiprotich Rogony, cited alleged abuse of office, including the irregular payment of Ksh85 million to contractors for incomplete projects and the diversion of money collected for victims of the Londiani road accident. Mutai, who rejected the accusations, spent most of the day defending his administration before legislators. Earlier in the week the High Court in Kericho had issued, then lifted, an order temporarily suspending debate on the motion after two petitioners challenged its legality, allowing the proceedings to proceed on Friday. Security around the county assembly was tightened after overnight warnings of unrest. Police fired tear-gas to disperse demonstrators backing the governor, and scuffles erupted inside the chamber after the vote, leaving at least one ward representative injured. The assembly’s decision now moves to Kenya’s Senate, which must either uphold or overturn the ouster before Mutai can be permanently removed from office.