Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wafula Wangamati has been released on a bond of Sh5 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh1.5 million after denying multiple corruption charges stemming from alleged fraudulent procurement deals during his tenure in office.
Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Zipporah Gichana issued the bail terms on Tuesday morning after Wangamati and his co-accused, including several of his siblings, pleaded not guilty to a string of charges related to conflict of interest, fraudulent tender awards, and unlawful acquisition of public funds.
The magistrate set the matter for mention on September 17, 2025, as the prosecution prepares its case and the defense readies its response.
According to the charge sheet presented by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Wangamati is accused of irregularly channeling over Sh24 million in county funds through companies directly linked to his siblings, raising serious concerns over conflict of interest and abuse of office.
In the first count, the prosecution alleges that between May 20, 2020, and June 12, 2021, Wangamati unlawfully acquired an indirect private interest worth Sh10.5 million through Nabwala Construction Limited, a company whose directors include his siblings.
The funds were allegedly routed from Valeria Construction Limited, which had received payments from the County Government of Bungoma for various road maintenance contracts.
In the second count, the ODPP claims that between July 9, 2020, and September 27, 2021, Wangamati again used Nabwala Construction to receive Sh5.43 million, this time from payments made to Mundesi Contractors Limited, another firm awarded county tenders for road works.
The charge cites a direct conflict of interest in violation of Section 42(3), read together with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA).
The third count alleges that Sh9.35 million was funneled to Nabwala Construction from Kelco Builders Limited, another county contractor, between May 12, 2020, and June 12, 2021.
The prosecution argued that this, too, constituted a serious breach of procurement and public ethics laws, as the former governor is said to have knowingly benefited from contracts involving close family members.
Wangamati was charged alongside three of his siblings: Edward Wangamati, George Wangamati, and Emmanuel Wangamati.
The trio, who are all listed as directors of Nabwala Construction Limited, also pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including: Conflict of interest, Use and acquisition of proceeds of crime, Willful failure to comply with procurement laws, Fraudulent practices during public procurement.
The court heard that the accused knowingly participated in a scheme that violated public trust and undermined the legal framework governing the use of public funds in county governments.
If found guilty, Wangamati and his co-accused face stiff penalties, including imprisonment, asset recovery, and disqualification from holding public office.
The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act prescribes harsh sanctions for individuals who exploit public office for personal gain, especially in cases involving procurement fraud and abuse of office.
The case against Wamatangi adds to a growing list of high-profile prosecutions targeting former governors and senior county officials in Kenya’s devolved government system.
The prosecution is expected to table its list of witnesses and documentary evidence during the next mention date on September 17, 2025.
