Lead image for 'Our relationship has come to an end': Kericho Governor Mutai publicly dumps DG, picks new running mate.
A year to the 2027 General Election, Kericho Governor Erick Mutai has publicly thrown his deputy, Fred Kirui, under the bus, ending a long-running, complicated political and administrative relationship.
He told Kirui that he has set him free to look for another political suitor ahead of the next polls — either as a gubernatorial candidate or a running mate.
"I want to clear the air and tell my deputy Fred Kirui, in his presence here, that since it is public knowledge that he was behind the two failed attempts to have me impeached, our political relationship has come to an end," Dr Mutai said in Chilchila Ward, Kipkelion West Constituency.
He added: "Moving forward, I will be working with Jackson Rop (CEC for Finance and Economic Planning) and have the Deputy Governor's position retained at Kipkelion West Constituency, where Engineer Kirui comes from."
Rop is also the former Kipkelion Member of Parliament.
The governor and his deputy have had a rocky relationship over the last four years, centred on an alleged power-sharing formula that was not honoured, failure to agree on the appointment of county executive committee (CEC) members and chief officers, as well as disagreements over identifying, prioritising and funding development projects.
"You (Kirui) are free to look for other leaders to work with in next year's election... That way, I bring to an end the toxic relationship that has persisted since we were elected four years ago," the county boss said.
Kirui threw the first salvo at Dr Mutai, telling him that he had mistreated and disrespected him since they were elected in August 2022, making it impossible for them to work together.