Bomet Governor Barchok freed on Sh5 million bail over graft charges
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, between November 14, 2019, and March 10, 2021, Governor Barchok unlawfully acquired an indirect private interest worth Sh2 million.
Bomet Governor Hillary Kipng’eno Barchok has been freed on Sh5 million cash bail or Sh15 million bond after denying corruption-related charges.
Barchok was on Tuesday arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi, where he faced seven criminal charges, including conflict of interest and money laundering, linked to alleged irregular payments from county contracts.
Magistrate Zipporah Gichana granted the governor a Sh15 million bond or a cash bail of Sh5 million.
She observed that although the prosecution did not oppose bail, the charges were serious and warranted tough conditions.
"The accused persons are directed not to contact or in any way interfere with prosecution witnesses by themselves or through proxies," the court directed.
Magistrate Gichana further directed that all the accused must deposit their passports in court within seven days and should not leave the country without prior court approval.
The governor’s co-accused were granted a bond of Sh5 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh2 million.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, between November 14, 2019, and March 10, 2021, Governor Barchok unlawfully acquired an indirect private interest worth Sh2 million.
Prosecutors told the court that the payments stemmed from contracts awarded to Chemasus Construction Limited by the Bomet County Government.
The tenders in question included one for the routine maintenance of the Kimenderit–Kotoibek–Olbutyo Bridge Road and another for the hire of a grader.
Investigators alleged that Barchok personally benefited from the contracts, contrary to procurement and anti-corruption laws.
The prosecution further claimed that on March 10, 2021, Sh2 million was transferred from Chemasus Construction Limited’s Equity Bank account into Governor Barchok’s personal account, funds the governor allegedly knew were proceeds of crime.
In addition, he was charged with four counts of using proceeds of crime after allegedly transferring Sh300,000, Sh314,000, Sh100,000, and Sh750,000 from his account between March 15 and March 29, 2021.
Prosecutors said the transactions were structured to disguise the origin of the money.
Barchok was jointly charged alongside Evans Kipkoech Korir, a director of Chemasus Construction Limited, and the company itself.
The three are accused of conspiring to conceal the source of funds through the transfer arrangement.
The case will return to court on September 17 for mention and further directions.
