NAIROBI, Kenya — Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok has suffered a legal setback after the High Court declined to issue orders to stop his arrest and arraignment.
The governor had filed a petition under a certificate of urgency, seeking to suspend any further steps toward his arrest, charging, and plea in relation to corruption allegations he is facing.
In his application, Barchok argued that the charges were baseless and malicious, designed to tarnish his reputation.
He insisted that the payment he received from Chemasus Construction Limited was part of a legitimate lease transaction and had no connection to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
Barchok 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 to the respondents, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and scheduled the matter for mention on September 7 for compliance.
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The EACC had summoned Governor Barchok and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati over corruption-related allegations on Friday.
The commission stated that it had received consent from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to charge the two leaders along with 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 within the County Government of Bomet.
