EACC Summons Bomet Governor Barchok, Former Bungoma Governor Wangamati, and 12 Associates in Corruption Probe
Quote from Lawyer on August 30, 2025, 6:30 amThe Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has issued summons to Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok, former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, and 12 other individuals. They are required to appear at the commission's headquarters at Integrity Centre in Nairobi on Monday, September 1, 2025, at 8 a.m. for processing and arraignment related to various graft allegations. This development follows the Director of Public Prosecutions' approval of charges against the suspects, marking a broader crackdown on corruption involving current and former county officials.
The summons stem from investigations into two major cases. In the first, Governor Barchok faces accusations of conflict of interest for allegedly receiving 2.75 million Kenyan shillings from companies that conducted business with Bomet County between the 2019/2020 and 2024/2025 financial years. He is set to be charged alongside Evans Kipkoech Korir, the director of Chemasus Construction Limited. The charges include conflict of interest under section 42(3) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and unlawful acquisition of public property.
The second case involves former Governor Wangamati and a group of associates linked to the alleged embezzlement of 70.2 million Kenyan shillings in public funds through private companies during his tenure in Bungoma County. Wangamati himself is accused of conflict of interest. His co-accused include Michael Simiyu Wangamati, Nicholas Wangamati, and Edward Barasa Wangamati, who serve as directors of Skyman Freighters Limited and Nabwala Construction Limited. Additional individuals named are Edward Maaya Makhanu, the director of Fastec Suppliers Limited; Sandra Soita Nasambu; Wafula Wakoli Chesititi; Bramwel Mukwe Wafula; Juma Swaleh Juma; Jimmy Wekesa Barasa; Christopher Masika Makokha; and Joseph Wanyonyi Khaemba. These suspects face charges such as acquisition of proceeds of crime, fraudulent practices in procurement proceedings, conflict of interest, and willful failure to comply with procurement laws. Nabwala Construction Limited is also implicated in the acquisition of proceeds of crime.
This action by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions highlights an intensified effort to address graft at the county level. In related developments, the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed further investigations into Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and Marsabit Governor Mohamed Mohamud Ali. For Wamatangi, the probe centers on allegations of irregularities in awarding a contract worth 23 billion Kenyan shillings for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, training, and support of an enterprise resource planning system during the 2022/2023 financial year. He is to be investigated alongside his spouse Anne Waruguru, Charles Kiarie, Mary Wambui, Joseph Kimani, Anne Njoroge, and Faith Wambui, with potential charges including conflict of interest, abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property, and money laundering.
Governor Ali faces scrutiny over the alleged unlawful awarding of tenders worth 309.6 million Kenyan shillings to six private entities between the 2016/2017 and 2023/2024 financial years in Marsabit County. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had recommended similar charges against him and county officials, but the Director of Public Prosecutions identified evidentiary gaps requiring additional investigation before formal charges can proceed.
The commission's chief executive officer emphasized that these steps are part of ongoing efforts to tackle high-profile corruption cases, with investigations completed on 89 such matters in the past eight months. These include probes into four sitting governors, 11 former governors, former cabinet secretaries, a principal secretary, and various state corporation leaders. The cases involve embezzlement, conflict of interest, money laundering, and possession of unexplained wealth, collectively worth about 1.6 billion Kenyan shillings and implicating 822 county officials in issues like irregular recruitment, payroll manipulation, improper allowances, and misuse of mortgage and car loan funds.
Former Governor Wangamati has publicly responded to the summons, maintaining his innocence and expressing readiness to appear as directed. The outcomes of these proceedings could set precedents for accountability in county governance, as the nation watches this unfolding chapter in the war on corruption.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has issued summons to Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok, former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, and 12 other individuals. They are required to appear at the commission's headquarters at Integrity Centre in Nairobi on Monday, September 1, 2025, at 8 a.m. for processing and arraignment related to various graft allegations. This development follows the Director of Public Prosecutions' approval of charges against the suspects, marking a broader crackdown on corruption involving current and former county officials.
The summons stem from investigations into two major cases. In the first, Governor Barchok faces accusations of conflict of interest for allegedly receiving 2.75 million Kenyan shillings from companies that conducted business with Bomet County between the 2019/2020 and 2024/2025 financial years. He is set to be charged alongside Evans Kipkoech Korir, the director of Chemasus Construction Limited. The charges include conflict of interest under section 42(3) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and unlawful acquisition of public property.
The second case involves former Governor Wangamati and a group of associates linked to the alleged embezzlement of 70.2 million Kenyan shillings in public funds through private companies during his tenure in Bungoma County. Wangamati himself is accused of conflict of interest. His co-accused include Michael Simiyu Wangamati, Nicholas Wangamati, and Edward Barasa Wangamati, who serve as directors of Skyman Freighters Limited and Nabwala Construction Limited. Additional individuals named are Edward Maaya Makhanu, the director of Fastec Suppliers Limited; Sandra Soita Nasambu; Wafula Wakoli Chesititi; Bramwel Mukwe Wafula; Juma Swaleh Juma; Jimmy Wekesa Barasa; Christopher Masika Makokha; and Joseph Wanyonyi Khaemba. These suspects face charges such as acquisition of proceeds of crime, fraudulent practices in procurement proceedings, conflict of interest, and willful failure to comply with procurement laws. Nabwala Construction Limited is also implicated in the acquisition of proceeds of crime.
This action by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions highlights an intensified effort to address graft at the county level. In related developments, the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed further investigations into Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and Marsabit Governor Mohamed Mohamud Ali. For Wamatangi, the probe centers on allegations of irregularities in awarding a contract worth 23 billion Kenyan shillings for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, training, and support of an enterprise resource planning system during the 2022/2023 financial year. He is to be investigated alongside his spouse Anne Waruguru, Charles Kiarie, Mary Wambui, Joseph Kimani, Anne Njoroge, and Faith Wambui, with potential charges including conflict of interest, abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property, and money laundering.
Governor Ali faces scrutiny over the alleged unlawful awarding of tenders worth 309.6 million Kenyan shillings to six private entities between the 2016/2017 and 2023/2024 financial years in Marsabit County. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had recommended similar charges against him and county officials, but the Director of Public Prosecutions identified evidentiary gaps requiring additional investigation before formal charges can proceed.
The commission's chief executive officer emphasized that these steps are part of ongoing efforts to tackle high-profile corruption cases, with investigations completed on 89 such matters in the past eight months. These include probes into four sitting governors, 11 former governors, former cabinet secretaries, a principal secretary, and various state corporation leaders. The cases involve embezzlement, conflict of interest, money laundering, and possession of unexplained wealth, collectively worth about 1.6 billion Kenyan shillings and implicating 822 county officials in issues like irregular recruitment, payroll manipulation, improper allowances, and misuse of mortgage and car loan funds.
Former Governor Wangamati has publicly responded to the summons, maintaining his innocence and expressing readiness to appear as directed. The outcomes of these proceedings could set precedents for accountability in county governance, as the nation watches this unfolding chapter in the war on corruption.