Court declines to stop arrest of Bomet Governor Barchok

The governor, under a certificate of urgency, had moved to court seeking orders to suspend any further steps towards his arrest, charging, and taking of plea in relation to corruption allegations he is facing.

In his application, Barchok argued that the charges were baseless, malicious, and intended to tarnish his reputation, insisting that the payment he received from Chemasus Construction Limited was a legitimate lease transaction that bore no connection to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). 

He further claimed that even a basic investigation would have shown that no conflict of interest existed.

However, Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed that the petition be served on the respondents, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and set the matter for mention on September 7, for compliance.

EACC on Friday summoned the Bomet Governor and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati over corruption-related allegations.

The commission said it had received consent from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to charge the two alongside several associates and company directors linked to their cases.

Governor Barchok and Evans Kipkoech Korir, a director of Chemasus Construction Limited, are facing allegations of conflict of interest in procurement dealings at the County Government of Bomet.