Monday, September 1, 2025 – Nairobi, Kenya – The High Court has delivered a major blow to Bomet Governor Hillary Kipng’eno Barchok after declining to block his detention and prosecution over corruption and abuse of office allegations.
Governor Barchok, who appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) earlier today, had sought court protection to stop investigators from arresting him. However, the High Court ruled that the anti-graft body had sufficient grounds to proceed with its case.
The case comes just days after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga directed that Barchok and several high-ranking county officials be charged with corruption-related offenses.
WHY HILLARY BARCHOK IS FACING PROSECUTION
According to the DPP, Governor Barchok is accused of receiving Ksh 2.75 million in questionable payments from companies that had contracts with the Bomet County Government between the financial years 2019/2020 and 2024/2025.
Investigations revealed that one of the companies linked to the scandal is Chemasus Construction Limited, whose director Evans Kipkoech Korir will also face charges alongside the governor.
The charges lined up against Barchok and Korir include:
- Conflict of interest
- Money laundering
- Acquisition of proceeds of crime
- Unlawful acquisition of public property
WANGAMATI ALSO ON THE HOOK FOR MILLIONS LOST IN BUNGOMA
In the same ruling, the DPP also confirmed that former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati and several county officials will face charges of embezzling Ksh 70.2 million.
Wangamati allegedly worked with private companies to siphon public funds in a scheme that has been described as one of the largest financial scandals to hit Bungoma County in recent years.
Charges against him include:
- Conflict of interest
- Acquisition of proceeds of crime
- Wilful failure to comply with procurement laws
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR GOVERNOR BARCHOK
With the High Court refusing to shield him from arrest, Governor Barchok now faces the real possibility of being detained and arraigned in court in the coming days.
The ruling has intensified debate across Bomet County, with residents divided over whether the governor is a victim of political witch-hunt or a public officer who must be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the EACC and ODPP have assured Kenyans that the case will be handled with transparency, adding that no individual—no matter their political position—will be spared in the fight against corruption.
