Overnight detention for Barchok and Wangamati due to corruption allegations

In a dramatic turn of events, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has directed former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati and current Bomet County Governor Hillary Barchok to present themselves at the EACC headquarters for processing and arraignment.

The directive follows investigations that allege that companies linked to Barchok received payments from the Bomet County Government between the financial years 2019/20 and 2025. Wangamati, who served as Bungoma governor between 2017 and 2022, is accused alongside 11 others, including directors of companies said to have benefited from inflated tenders.

Wangamati and Barchok spent the night in police custody before their expected arraignment today. The two are expected to face charges of conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, and embezzlement of public funds, according to the EACC.

For Wangamati, the DPP approved charges linked to alleged embezzlement of public funds during his tenure as Bungoma governor. The EACC has also directed Barchok to answer for her role in the alleged corruption.

Wangamati's lawyer, Peter Wanyama, accused the EACC of playing politics instead of pursuing justice and claimed his client was being targeted for political reasons. He also raised concern over the treatment of a co-accused person with a wheelchair and high blood pressure, who was reportedly kept at the EACC police station for more than six hours without medical attention.

Wanyama's statements echo those of Wangamati himself, who claimed that his current troubles are tied to Bungoma's 2027 politics. He suggested that the EACC is being used to settle political scores.

Barchok's lawyer, however, did not comment on the allegations against his client.

The High Court declined to stop Barchok's arrest and prosecution after she sought orders under a certificate of urgency to bar the EACC from acting on the DPP's approval. The EACC received approval from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge Barchok over conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property.

Wangamati's lawyer stated that his client's detention was politically motivated. He also claimed that Wangamati has a clean record.

The trial for Wangamati and Barchok is scheduled to take place in a court in Kenya on Wednesday, September 1, 2025. The public will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of this case, which promises to shed light on the alleged corruption in the Kenyan government.