The High Court has refused to block the detention of Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok over graft allegations.
Barchok appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) earlier today, together with former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, just days after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, ordered their prosecution.
However, in its ruling, just hours after the governor presented himself to the commission, the court declined to issue orders that would have, in turn, prevented the EACC from detaining and prosecuting him.
In his statement on Thursday, August 28, Ingonga said that he would be charged with a conflict of interest after he allegely received Ksh2.75 million from companies that traded with the county between the financial years 2019/2020 and 2024/2025.
The ODPP further stated that the governor should be arraigned in court alongside the Director of Chemasus Construction Limited, Evans Kipkoech Korir.
Ingonga said that the governor and Korir should be charged with conflict of interest, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and unlawful acquisition of public property.
"On 18th July 2025, the ODPP received an inquiry file from the EACC accompanied by a report under section 35 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, Cap 65 Laws of Kenya," Ingonga stated.
"The EACC recommended that Hillary Kipng'eno Barchok, the Governor of the County Government of Bomet, and Evans Kipkoech Korir, Director of Chemasus Construction Limited, be arraigned in court," he added.
DPP further ordered the prosecution of former Bungoma Governor Wycliff Wangamati on corruption charges.
According to the ODPP, Wangamati, alongside other Bungoma county officials, embezzled Ksh70,205,882 through private companies.
The DPP stateed that Wangamati and the said county officials should be charged with conflict of interest, acquisition of Proceeds of Crime, and wilful failure to comply with the law relating to procurement.
"I have directed that the following individuals be charged as follows: Wycliffe Wangamati, conflict of interest contrary to section 42(3) as read with sections 38 and 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Act," DPP stated.
