Bomet Governor Hillary Kipng’eno Barchok and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati were on Tuesday arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court over graft allegations.
The two leaders arrived at the court in the morning under tight police escort. They were briefly held in the cells on September 1, as they waited for their arraignment.
Wangamati had presented himself at the Integrity Centre headquarters in Nairobi on Monday after a summons by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
They were joined by several co-accused persons, whom investigators say were involved in the financial dealings at the centre of the case.
After processing, Barchok, Wangamati, and the others were taken to the Anti-Corruption Court to plead to charges approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The case follows investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into county government operations.
According to the ODPP, the probe revealed allegations of procurement fraud, conflict of interest, and misuse of public funds during their time in office.
Governor Barchok is accused of conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property.
Wangamati is accused of a conflict of interest over payments said to have been diverted through companies linked to him and his associates.
Besides Wangamati, the EACC on Friday, August 29, named more than 10 co-persons of interest linked to companies believed to have been used to siphon county funds.
Also Read: EACC Summons Governor Barchok, Wangamati Over Corruption, Embezzlement Allegations
“The accused named above are directed to present themselves at the EACC Headquarters, Integrity Centre, on Monday, 1st September 2025, at 8:00 am for processing and arraignment,” EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud said in the statement.
The matter will continue before the Anti-Corruption Court, where the suspects are expected to take a plea.
Wangamati has, however, denied corruption allegations; he faces 27 charges, including conflict of interest and acquisition of proceeds of crime alongside his co-accused.
