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Tag: George Natembeya

  • DPP appeals acquittal of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya

    DPP appeals acquittal of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya

    The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed a Notice of Appeal on a High Court decision that acquitted George Natembeya, the Governor of Trans Nzoia County, in a case related to the alleged unlawful acquisition of public funds and conflict of interest.

    The Appeal follows a judgment delivered on 4th of March 2026 by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, which barred the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from investigating, recommending prosecution, or initiating criminal proceedings against the county boss.

    The court also awarded the Governor General damages amounting to Ksh 2.5 million, plus interest at court rates from the date of judgment until payment in full.

    The DPP had charged the Governor with unlawful acquisition of public property worth Ksh 3,252,568.

    The charges stem from payments made by the County Government of Trans Nzoia to companies that conducted business with the county.

    It is alleged that between the 1st of January 2023 and 30th April 2025, Governor Natembeya unlawfully acquired the funds through transactions involving Lyma Agro Science Limited, Maira Stores, and Easterly Winds Limited in circumstances that constituted a conflict of interest.

    Further, the governor was charged with two counts of conflict of interest contrary to Section 42(3) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

    The Prosecution had earlier told the court that Natembeya allegedly acquired an indirect pecuniary interest of KSh 1,127,900 from Mercy Chelangat, the Director of Lyma Agro Science Limited and proprietor of Maira Stores, both of which had business dealings with the county government.

    He is further accused of acquiring an indirect pecuniary interest of KSh 2,124,668 from Emmanuel Wafula Masungo, the beneficial owner of Easterly Winds Limited, another company that conducted business with the County Government of Trans Nzoia.

  • 14 arrested for obstructing EACC officers at Governor Natembeya’s residence

    14 arrested for obstructing EACC officers at Governor Natembeya’s residence

    14 suspects have been arrested in connection with alleged malicious damage and theft during a raid at the residence of the Trans Nzoia County Governor, George Natembeya, by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

    The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Thursday evening reported significant progress in investigations into the chaotic scenes in which EACC officers were unlawfully obstructed while performing their official duties.

    “The multi-agency team comprising local law enforcement officers in Trans Nzoia West, augmented by detectives from DCI Headquarters Operations Unit, conducted an operation that led to the arrest of 14 suspects connected to acts of malicious damage and stealing at the residence of Trans Nzoia County Governor”, the detectives said in a statement.

    They disclosed that a manhunt is currently underway for additional suspects, including financiers, facilitators, and ringleaders behind the Tuesday incident.

    The Commission has since condemned the violence allegedly directed at its officers and the destruction of their vehicles by a group of angry residents who attacked a contingent of armed EACC and police officers who raided Governor Natembeya’s home.

    The arrested suspects are Leon Ikua, Brian Mutonyi, James Maina, Churchill Ambula, Chirispus Kingara, Joseph Kakanja, Daniel Kanyingi, Levy Kiprotich, John Kamau, Benjamin Bukhala, Lavingtone Kipkemboi, Isaac Nyongesa Wanyonyi Wasike, Tonny Wafula Wasike and Ismael Juma.

    They have all been taken into custody pending arraignment.

  • Trans Nzoia Governor Natembeya arraigned in court

    Trans Nzoia Governor Natembeya arraigned in court

    Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has been arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Courts in Nairobi following his arrest by EACC detectives over alleged county financial irregularities amounting to Ksh1.4 billion.

    He is currently taking a plea to three counts of corruption-related offences while the prosecution team is also presenting its case for why the county boss should be denied bail.

    He is expected to be charged with corruption alongside Chief Officer for Finance Emanuel Masungo, Chief Officer for Water Dorothy Nyukuri, Procurement Director Eliyah Liambula, and contractor Desmond Shivachi, who is alleged to be a proxy for the governor.

    DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa and his Roots Party counterpart George Wajackoyah are part of Natembeya’s legal team, which is being led by lawyer Ndegwa Njiru.

    A joint team of EACC and DCI officers raided his residence in Milimani, Kitale, early Monday morning in his absence.

    He will be charged with alleged corruption alongside Emanuel Masungo – Chief Officer, Finance, Dorothy Nyukuri – Chief Officer, Water, Eliyah Liambula – Director, Procurement and Desmond Shivachi -Contractor/Proxy to the Governor

    Natembeya was arrested in his Nairobi residence on Monday and grilled at the Integrity Center before being processed for charging.

     

    Additional reporting/photos by court reporter Ruth Wamboi

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  • Natembeya pledges to collaborate with national government in the fight against illicit liquor and drugs

    Natembeya pledges to collaborate with national government in the fight against illicit liquor and drugs

    Report by Mary Muthoni

    TransNzoia Governor George Natembeya says he will work closely with national government agencies in the ongoing efforts to address the problem of illicit brews and substance abuse in the County.

    Natembeya who made the commitment when he addressed a multi-agency forum held at the Kitale National Polytechnic, urged relevant agencies to conduct a thorough inspection of all bars, hotels and wines and spirits shops to ensure they were adhering to regulations.

    “There is an urgent need for a thorough crackdown of hotels and bars across the county in order to flush out rogue traders who are engaging in illicit businesses,” said Natembeya.

    Besides top county government officers, the meeting also brought together National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) led by area County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi, representatives from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), Anti–Counterfeit Authority (ACA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

    The objective of the forum was to raise awareness among law enforcement officers on the importance of proper management and effective strategies to curb what was described as an escalating problem of illegal brews and drugs in the region.

    A recent survey by NACADA revealed Western region as having the highest prevalence of alcohol use at 24 per cent followed by the Coast at 14 per cent with central Kenya at 13 per cent.