Former County officials tell Senate of money requests allegedly by Governor Mutai

Kericho Governor Eric Mutai is facing serious allegations in the Senate over claims that he pressured county officials to hand him money, with witnesses saying the demands were tied to keeping their positions.

Former employees told lawmakers that the Governor used his office to intimidate and humiliate staff, often insisting on financial contributions for personal or official purposes.

Edna Tanui, a former Member of the County Executive Committee, told the Senate that she sent a total of Sh1.5 million over two years to meet the Governor’s repeated requests.

Tanui and other CECs were dismissed on December 23, 2024, via an announcement on the Governor’s official Facebook page, with no explanation other than a reorganization of the administration.

“I have never known why the Governor sacked me,” Tanui said. “I suspect I had to go because I refused to support him in his fundraisers.”

She explained that while only Sh300,000 of the money was directly deposited into the Governor’s MPesa account, the remaining Sh1.2 million was handed over in cash through his personal aides, Robinson Kiplagat and Renny Kipsang Ngetich.

“If given a chance, I can produce conversations with the Governor leading to the Sh1.2 million,” Tanui said, adding that she would need a court process to obtain Safaricom call logs. She described how the Governor would often call and demand specific amounts, sometimes as small as Sh10,000, to be sent to him or other people he designated.

Records submitted to the Senate showed that several individuals deposited money into her MPesa account, including Sh50,000 from Paul Misik, Sh10,000 from Janet Koech, and Sh10,000 from Beatrice Kiptanui.

Senators pressed Tanui to explain the difference between the deposits and the total sum she claimed to have sent to the Governor.

Senator Danson Mungatana asked, “How was the money given?” highlighting that her testimony did not fully justify the claimed Sh1.5 million.

Senator Okongo Omogeni sought clarity on the identity of the people who sent money into Tanui’s account and whether the funds were meant for the Governor.

Okiya Omtatah questioned why the Governor’s conduct was never reported to investigative authorities, while Godfrey Osotsi suggested the funds could have originated from corruption and demanded explanation.

Tanui maintained that she could verify the claims once Safaricom records were accessed and argued that her MPesa account reflected both personal and business transactions.

“I have only one number and all my personal and business transactions go through my Safaricom line,” she said. She added that one of the questioned transactions involved a repayment from her uncle.

Another witness, former chief officer Kipngeno Bett, also told the Senate that the Governor repeatedly called him demanding money.

“I sent him money many times after he called demanding the money. I don’t know where he expected me to get the money from,” he said.

Bett recalled being publicly humiliated by the Governor in front of his family after failing to comply. “He called and said I am an ungrateful person because I could not send him little money he was asking,” he said.

He told the Senate that he was not legally obliged to send money but felt pressured to comply to avoid repeated insults and humiliation. Both witnesses said the money they sent came from personal savings and proceeds from their businesses.

Alfred Mutai Korir, the third witness, shifted focus to defending the integrity of the County Assembly’s digital voting system, saying it was secure and could not be accessed by unauthorized individuals.

The Senate is expected to continue hearing testimony as the County Assembly pursues its case against Governor Mutai over the alleged coercion of officials for financial gain.