Corruption charges: Barchok and Wangamati spend night in custody

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati spent the night in police custody. [File, Standard] Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati spent the night in police custody after presenting themselves to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices in Nairobi following summons to answer to corruption-related charges. The two, who are facing separate charges, are expected to be arraigned today alongside several co-accused persons. In a statement issued on Friday, the EACC said it had received approval from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge the two over conflict of interest and embezzlement of public funds. "The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission hereby directs the above-named suspects to present themselves at the EACC headquarters at Integrity Centre on Monday, September 1, 2025 at 8am for processing and arraignment," EACC stated. According to the DPP, Barchok faces charges of conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property. Investigations allege that companies linked to him received payments from the Bomet County Government between the financial years 2019/20 and 2025. The High Court had earlier declined to stop the Governor's arrest and prosecution after he sought orders under a certificate of urgency to bar the EACC from acting on the DPP's approval. Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed Barchok to serve his petition to the EACC and scheduled a mention of the case for October 7. For Wangamati, the DPP approved charges linked to alleged embezzlement of public funds during his tenure as Bungoma governor. He is accused alongside 11 others, including directors of companies said to have benefited from inflated tenders. However, his legal team raised questions about the credibility of the investigations, pointing out that one of the individuals summoned by EACC, Nicholas Wanjala Wangamati, died in June 2022. "We submitted the death certificate today and even EACC officers appeared surprised. How can an agency funded by taxpayers summon a deceased person for arraignment? This alone shows the sloppiness and political undertones behind this matter," said his lawyer Peter Wanyama. Wanyama accused the agency of playing politics instead of pursuing justice and claimed his client was being targeted for political reasons. "Until a certain senior politician's brother announced his intention to run for Bungoma governor, EACC had nothing against Wangamati. This is purely political persecution," he said. The lawyer claimed that the former governor was deliberately being subjected to harsh conditions, including being held in dirty police cells, following a phone call allegedly made by a senior politician to EACC. "We brought him here at 7:50am. He was processed by 9am but since then, they have kept him at the EACC police station, doing nothing. They refused to release him on police bond despite his full cooperation," Wanyama said. He added: "Why keep him in custody overnight if the processing was completed? This is not about fighting corruption, it is about political games. We know who is behind it, and we will not allow EACC to be used to settle political scores." Wangamati, who spoke before being taken to Kilimani Police Station said that his woes were tied to Bungoma's 2027 politics. "This is all about politics. I have a clean record, and I know the truth will eventually come out," he said. Wangamati served as Bungoma governor between 2017, when he beat incumbent Kenneth Lusaka, and 2022, when the latter reclaimed the seat. His lawyer also raised concern over the treatment of co-accused persons, including one who uses a wheelchair and has high blood pressure. "He has been kept here for more than six hours without medical attention. This is a violation of his rights," Wanyama said. Both politicians were later escorted to Kilimani Police Station, where they spent the night ahead of their arraignment.

Corruption charges: Barchok and Wangamati spend night in custody

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Corruption charges: Barchok and Wangamati spend night in custody

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