Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has been released on a cash bail of Ksh500,000 or a bond of Ksh1 million after he was charged with multiple corruption-related offences.
The county boss, who has been an outspoken critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, is facing two counts of conflict of interest and one count of unlawful acquisition of public property.
He has been barred from accessing his office for 60 days, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
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Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki also directed that Natembeya must not leave the country without court permission, must not interfere with witnesses, and must refrain from commenting on the matter publicly or in media.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Natembeya is alleged to have unlawfully acquired Ksh3.25 million in public funds between January 1, 2023, and April 30, 2025.
The money was allegedly funneled through county government transactions that constituted a conflict of interest.
The prosecution claims the governor received Ksh1.12 million and Ksh2.12 million indirectly from businesspeople linked to county tenders, violating provisions of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003.
Natembeya, who denied all the charges, was represented by a legal team led by Senior Counsel Eugene Wamalwa, who raised concerns over the sudden changes to the charge sheet. Wamalwa questioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for revising the alleged graft figure from Ksh4.1 billion to just over Ksh4 million, calling the move “sinister” and misleading.
“In Anti-Graft Court No. 1, with a team of 20 lawyers representing Governor George Natembeya, a surprising development from yesterday’s EACC allegations of Ksh4.1 billion—charges have now changed to Ksh1.1 million and Ksh2.1 million kickbacks?” Wamalwa posed.
The matter will return to court on June 3, 2025, for a pre-trial conference. The DPP has been directed to furnish all relevant documentary evidence by that date.
Outside the courtroom, tension flared as Natembeya’s supporters clashed with police at the Milimani Law Courts.
Demonstrators called for his unconditional release, echoing similar scenes in Kitale’s Milimani estate on Monday, where protestors stoned and deflated tyres of police vehicles sent to arrest the governor.
The developments mark a significant moment in the fight against corruption involving high-ranking public officials and are expected to fuel further political debates in the Rift Valley region and beyond.