EACC Recommends Prosecution of Three Sitting Governors Over Graft Allegations

EACC officials address the press in Nairobi after recommending the prosecution of three sitting governors over corruption-related charges.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recommended that three sitting governors be prosecuted for corruption-related offenses involving billions of shillings.

Those named are Governor Kimani Wamatangi of Kiambu County, Governor Mohamed Mohamud Ali of Marsabit County, and Governor Hillary Barchok of Bomet County. The recommendations have been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for action.

According to the EACC, the three governors are implicated in cases ranging from irregular tender awards, conflict of interest, money laundering, to unlawful acquisition of public property.

In Kiambu, Governor Wamatangi is accused of influencing the award of Sh1.27 billion worth of tenders to companies linked to him and his family during his tenure as Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Roads and Transportation. EACC detectives say firms associated with him King Group Co. Ltd, King Construction Co. Ltd, and Lub Plus Oil & Energy Co. Ltd benefited from lucrative contracts with KeNHA and KURA. He faces possible charges of conflict of interest and acquisition of proceeds of crime.

In Marsabit, Governor Ali and his spouse Alamitu Guyo Jattani are accused of benefiting from county contracts through companies connected to close associates. Investigators uncovered suspicious transactions involving Ororo Company Ltd and Damme Investment Construction Company, with money allegedly flowing back to the governor’s family.

In Bomet, Governor Barchok is accused of involvement in a Sh152 million tender scandal. The EACC alleges that six companies irregularly received county contracts between 2019 and 2025, with funds later traced to the governor, his spouse, and close allies.

The commission says the evidence gathered demonstrates clear breaches of procurement laws, conflict of interest, and misuse of public resources.

If the ODPP proceeds with charges, the cases would mark one of the most significant crackdowns on sitting governors in recent years. However, political resistance and ongoing court battles are likely to shape the trajectory of the prosecutions.

The EACC has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring accountability in county governments, warning that public office holders must not use their positions for personal enrichment.

Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Date: August 23, 2025