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After blocking him from his office, EACC wants Natembeya barred from all Trans-Nzoia County offices
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on May 20, 2025.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has filed a court application seeking to bar Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya from accessing not just the county headquarters, but all sub-county offices within his jurisdiction.
In an affidavit sworn by EACC Assistant Director and Head of Operations Division Emmanuel Arunga, the commission argues that continued access to these offices poses a serious threat to ongoing investigations and the criminal case against the governor.
Governor Natembeya, the primary suspect in a graft case, was released on bail on May 20, 2025, under the condition that he steer clear of the Trans Nzoia County headquarters.
However, the commission now contends that crucial documents tied to the investigation are also located in sub-county offices, specifically in Kiminini, Saboti, Endebess, Kwanza and Cherangany.
According to the affidavit, Mr Natembeya has since relocated his operations to the Kiminini sub-County office.
“From this conduct, there is a likelihood that he will access the four other sub-county offices,” the commission states.
Mr Arunga emphasised that allowing Mr Natembeya into any county premises could jeopardise the integrity of the investigation and prejudice the case potentially obstructing justice.
“In the interest of justice, the 1st accused person (Natembeya) should be barred from accessing not only the County Office as earlier ordered, but also all the sub-county offices,” reads the affidavit.
The applications await the court's ruling.
Governor's allies
Separately, the commission has suffered a setback after a Kitale Court on Wednesday declined a request by investigators to extend the detention of three allies of Governor Natembeya.
The trio is linked to the vandalism of the commission’s vehicles during a raid at the governor’s Milimani residence last month.
Governor Natembeya’s protocol officer Franklyn Kuyala Bwire, Sinyerere MCA John Chingi Makhanu and former Motosiet Ward MCA Bernard Aliangana are among 24 individuals arrested in connection with the incident.
Youths arrested earlier were released on Wednesday due to lack of evidence.
The three appeared before Chief Magistrate Samuel Mokua at the Kitale Law Courts on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to charges related to the vandalism of EACC vehicles used during the May 19 raid.
Riot-police at the entrance of Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya's home in Kitale on May 19, 2025.
The court released the accused on a cash bail of Sh100,000 each or an alternative bond of Sh500,000 with surety.
Prosecutors had requested a 10-day extension to detain the suspects, citing the need for further investigations, including asset valuation. They argued that more time was needed to assess the extent of damage to the vehicles and to gather sufficient evidence.
However, Chief Magistrate Mokua declined the request, questioning the rationale behind arresting suspects before completing investigations.
“Police have no authority to arrest or detain suspects if their evidence does not meet the legal threshold,” he remarked.
The defense team, led by advocate Aggrey Karani, criticised the prosecution’s move, calling it a “fishing expedition” for evidence.
Political tension
Amid heightened political tension in Trans Nzoia, supporters of the governor have decried what they perceive as political persecution of his close allies.
Mr Aliangana was arrested at his home in Cherangany on Monday, while Mr Bwire and Mr Chingi were arrested on Tuesday while attending a court session at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in support of Governor Natembeya. The three were detained overnight at Kitale Police Station.
They face charges of obstructing government officers on duty and damaging public property.
The EACC officers, armed with a court-issued search warrant, said they were investigating allegations of procurement irregularities, bribery, abuse of office and the fraudulent acquisition of public funds totaling Sh1.46 billion between 2022 and 2025.
Heavy deployment of police officers outside Governor Natembeya 's home.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the raid was met with resistance from county officials and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who allegedly mobilised the public to obstruct the officers.
The resulting chaos led to the vandalism of five government vehicles with damages estimated at Sh12.1 million.
Advocate Karani warned that the defense would move to have the case dismissed if the prosecution failed to produce concrete evidence within 30 days.
“If the prosecution does not provide evidence within that period, we will file to have the charges dropped and my clients freed,” Mr Karani said.
There was tension outside the Kitale court earlier in the day when the magistrate postponed a ruling on the matter to 3.30 pm.
Governor Natembeya was charged last month with three counts of corruption, including conflict of interest in the awarding of major county tenders.
The prosecution informed the court that it is still waiting for key documents from various government agencies to support the trial.
Although the matter was scheduled for pre-trial directions, State Prosecutor Victor Owiti explained that the defense had not yet been served with the required documents.
On June 3, during the case mentioned in Nairobi, the prosecution indicated that the EACC had not finalized the preparation of critical documents needed for disclosure and requested an additional two weeks. These documents, they noted, must be sourced from multiple government offices.
