Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate , Governor Barchok and Evans Kipng’eno Korir a director of Chemasus Construction Limited, pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

According to the charge sheet, the governor is accused of receiving Sh2 million from a private contractor as a kickback linked to fraudulent procurement deals.

The funds, investigators allege, were disguised through intermediaries and used to facilitate the acquisition of property in Barchok’s name, an act said to violate provisions of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA).

The charges include conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, and handling proceeds of crime, all allegedly committed while Barchok was in office as the county’s chief executive.

Through his legal team led by senior counsel Issa Mansur, Governor Barchok urged the court to consider releasing him on a free bond, insisting that he is a law-abiding citizen willing to fully cooperate with the court.

“My client is ready to abide by all court directives. He has no intention of interfering with witnesses or obstructing the judicial process in any way,” Mansur told the court, further arguing that the charges were “not unusual” for individuals in political office and did not warrant custodial conditions.

The prosecution, led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda, did not oppose the release of Governor Barchok and his co-accused on bail.

However, he asked the court to impose strict conditions given the nature and seriousness of the charges.

Monda submitted that, upon release: “They should not leave the jurisdiction of the court without the permission of the Trial Court.”

He also asked the court to bar the accused persons from contacting or interfering with prosecution witnesses, either directly or through their proxies:

“Upon service of the evidentiary material by the prosecution, they should not contact or interfere in any way, either by themselves or through their proxies, with the prosecution witnesses.”

Furthermore, Monda requested that:“If any of the accused persons hold a passport, the same should be deposited in court, and they must seek the court’s permission should they wish to travel outside the country.”

He concluded by asking the court to caution the accused against making any public or indirect comments that could compromise the integrity of the case:

“They should not make any comments, either by themselves or through their proxies, in order to preserve the integrity of this case.”

The bail hearing is currently ongoing.

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In a ruling delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, the court refused to grant interim orders that would have barred the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from proceeding with investigations and possible charges against the governor.

Instead, the judge directed that the respondents, including the EACC and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), be formally served with court papers.

The matter is scheduled for mention on September 7 to confirm compliance and allow for responses.

Governor Barchok had filed an urgent application, seeking the court’s intervention to halt what he described as an unlawful attempt to arrest and arraign him.

Through his legal team, the governor argued that the corruption allegations were without merit and crafted to malign his reputation.

Central to the case is a payment made to Barchok by Chemasus Construction Limited, which the EACC believes may constitute a conflict of interest.

The anti-graft body is investigating whether the transaction had links to contracts awarded by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and the Bomet County Government.

Barchok, however, has maintained that the payment in question was tied to a private lease agreement unrelated to any public procurement dealings.

“There was no conflict of interest. A simple verification would have made that clear,” Barchok told the court, insisting the matter was being politicized.

The High Court’s decision came shortly after the EACC issued summons to both Governor Barchok and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati.

The two are under investigation alongside several company directors and associates alleged to be linked to procurement irregularities.

The ODPP has reportedly given clearance for the prosecution of the implicated parties once investigations are complete.

Governor Barchok, along with Evans Kipkoech Korir, a director of Chemasus Construction, is at the center of inquiries focusing on alleged irregular financial dealings within the Bomet County administration.

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