The High Court has issued temporary orders suspending the criminal proceedings against Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who has been accused of corruption.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, the court suspended the case pending the determination of a petition Natembeya has filed challenging the charges that have been brought against him.
The case against Natembeya stems from alleged procurement irregularities by his government. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission also accused the county chief of abuse of office.
According to the court documents, Natembeya moved to court seeking to stop his prosecution, citing constitutional violations.
The judge directed that the petition, application, and court order be served to all respondents, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), by June 9, 2025.
''Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the petitioner/applicant's Notice of Motion Application dated 05/06/2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued staying the criminal proceedings in Nairobi, Milimani Chief Magistrates' Anti-Corruption Case Number E024 of 2025, Republic versus George Natembeya & Anor,'' read part of the ruling by Justice Mwamuye.
Following the ruling, Kenyans.co.ke spoke to Joshua Malidzo, a constitutional lawyer, who confirmed that the latest ruling means that all the decisions issued earlier by the anti-corruption court, including barring him from accessing his office, have now been put aside, pending the determination of the case.
On May 20, Natembeya was released on a Ksh1 million bond or a cash bail of Ksh500,000 after being charged with graft.
The governor, who faces two counts of conflict of interest and one count of unlawful acquisition of public property, was also barred from accessing his office for the next 60 days.
Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki also barred the county chief, a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, from leaving the country without the permission of the court and warned him against any attempt to interfere with witnesses in the case.
Natembeya was further prohibited from commenting on the case in whatever manner, either in the media or a public forum.
According to the ODPP, the governor is alleged to have unlawfully acquired Ksh3.25 million in public funds between January 1, 2023, and April 30, 2025, through payments made by the county government of Trans Nzoia in circumstances that constituted a conflict of interest.
He was also charged with two counts of conflict of interest under the Anti-Graft and Economic Crimes Act, 2003. The prosecution told the court that during the same period, Natembeya acquired indirect financial benefits of Ksh1.12 million and Ksh2.12 million from individuals whose businesses traded with the county government.
He, however, denied the charges, even as the prosecution maintained that the Ksh4.2 million he allegedly received was linked to county tenders.
