The apprehension of former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has taken a fresh twist after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula was linked to the case, with Wangamati’s lawyers accusing him of fueling their client’s woes.
Addressing the media on Monday, September 1, the lawyers claimed that the ex-governor is facing charges of conflict of interest allegedly orchestrated by the Speaker.
“We know it is Wetangula who has made this call because we know what he is capable of doing, and we have had this information for quite some time,” one of Wangamati’s advocates alleged.
According to the lawyers, the charges against the former governor are solely based on a conflict of interest, with no tangible evidence to support them.
The lawyers allege that the former governor’s apprehension was purely a political move.
“There is no evidence whatsoever, and we challenge EACC and ODPP to show us the evidence that the money came to the ex-governor’s account. This is just political persecution, and we are warning them that it must stop,” the lawyers stated.
They further accused the anti-graft body of mishandling the case, alleging that the EACC had summoned a person who had passed on three years ago.
“One of the persons that EACC summoned to appear passed on three years ago, which makes us question that the prosecution is politically instigated,” the lawyers added.
The advocates also challenged the EACC leadership, led by CEO Abdi Ahmed Mohamud, to resist political interference, warning that such infiltration risked eroding the institution’s credibility.
“This damages the profile of the institution, don't allow yourselves to be used by politicians to damage the profile of a critical institution which Kenyans want to work for them,” they said.
On his part, the former governor alleged that he was being targeted after he announced his intentions to run for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat in the upcoming 2027 general election.
Wangamati had earlier presented himself at the EACC headquarters on Monday, September 1, in response to a summons issued on Friday, August 29.
EACC had initially revealed that it received consent from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to charge him alongside several of his associates. The governor stands accused of embezzling public funds during his tenure as Busia County boss.
