Governor Barchok, Bungoma ex-governor Wangamati spend night in police custody over graft

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Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati spent the night at Kilimani Police Station after being grilled for hours at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) headquarters in Nairobi.

The two(2) leaders were summoned to Integrity Centre on Friday in connection with multi-million shilling graft allegations dating back to their tenures in county leadership.

After hours of questioning, they were escorted to Kilimani Police Station, where they remained in custody pending further action by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

Sources familiar with the investigations indicated that Dr Barchok’s case revolves around alleged irregular procurement and misuse of county resources in Bomet, while Mr Wangamati faces questions over procurement and tendering processes during his tenure in Bungoma.

Mr Wangamati’s ordeal reflects the gravity of the allegations he faces: embezzlement of over Ksh 70.2 million through a network of companies linked to him, his family, and associates—deemed by the DPP to violate multiple statutes.

They include conflict of interest, acquisition of proceeds of crime, procurement law breaches, and fraudulent procurement practice under both the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA) and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPADA).

His co-accused roster reads like a who’s who of the county machinery—relatives such as Michael Simiyu Wangamati, Nicholas Wangamati, Edward Barasa Wangamati and business associates including Edward Makhanu, Silvan Wangamati, Joseph Khaemba, among others.

They allegedly benefited through entities like Skyman Freighters Ltd, Nabwala Construction Ltd, Fastec Suppliers Ltd, Nabweso Builders Ltd, and others.

Dr Barchok’s charges stem from alleged conflict of interest and money laundering involving Ksh 2.75 million received from firms with county dealings.

One of the fiems is Chemasus Construction Limited, whose Director, Evans Kipkoech Korir, is named alongside him in the prosecution.

Prosecutors, under the DPP’s direction, are pursuing charges of conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of property, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and money laundering under the same Acts invoked in Wangamati’s case.

Governor Barchok had attempted to forestall his arrest through a certificate of urgency filed at the High Court.

He argued that the allegations were politically motivated and that the payments were legitimate leases unrelated to his public office.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye, however, declined to issue conservatory orders, allowing the EACC to proceed unhindered.