Governor Natembeya freed on Sh500,000 bail, barred from county office
A Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday evening imposed tough conditions, including barring him from accessing his county office for 60 days.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was on Tuesday released on a Sh1 million bond or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000 after pleading not guilty to corruption charges.
A Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday evening imposed tough conditions, including barring him from accessing his county office for 60 days and restricting him from travelling outside the country without court permission.
Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki also ordered the governor not to speak publicly about the case and warned that failure to comply with any of the 15 conditions would lead to immediate cancellation of bail.
"Any breach of the conditions shall attract attendant consequences, including cancellation of bond or bail," said the magistrate.
Natembeya, who was arrested on Monday, faces three charges of acquiring public funds through conflict of interest.
He is accused of receiving Sh1,127,900 from Mercy Chelangat, the director of Lyma Agro Science Limited and proprietor of Maria Stores, which had contracts with the county government.
He also allegedly acquired Sh2,124,668 from Emmanuel Wafula Masungo, linked to Easterly Winds Limited, another supplier to the county.
A third charge states he received Sh3,252,568 from Chelangat, part of payments made by the Trans Nzoia county government to her companies.
The governor denied all charges.
The prosecution opposed his release on bond, arguing that he may interfere with witnesses, investigations and exhibits.
