Wycliffe Wangamati Appears Before EACC in Ksh70 Million Embezzlement Case

Ex-Bungoma Governor Wangamati arrives at EACC in Nairobi over Ksh70M graft case.

Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wafula Wangamati appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi on Monday after being summoned to answer to corruption charges.

Wangamati is accused of conflict of interest and the embezzlement of Ksh70,205,882 during his tenure between 2017 and 2022. Investigators allege the funds were siphoned through irregularly awarded road construction tenders to companies linked to him, his relatives, and close associates.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved the charges on August 29, clearing the way for prosecution. Several of Wangamati’s relatives and allies including Michael Simiyu Wangamati, Nicholas Wangamati, and Edward Barasa Wangamati are also implicated. They are accused of fraudulently benefiting from county contracts and acquiring proceeds of crime.

Wangamati, who arrived at the EACC accompanied by his lawyers, dismissed the allegations as politically driven, insisting they are part of a smear campaign to derail his planned 2027 gubernatorial comeback.

Once suspects are processed at the EACC, which includes recording statements and fingerprinting, they are arraigned in court for plea taking and trial. Wangamati is expected to appear in court in the coming days.

His case is part of a broader crackdown on graft targeting both current and former county chiefs. On the same day, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok also honored a summons at the EACC. He faces charges of conflict of interest and unlawful property acquisition worth Ksh2.75 million involving Chemasus Construction Ltd.

The EACC has in recent months forwarded dozens of files to the DPP involving governors, senior state officials, and parastatal bosses. The Commission has flagged county procurement as one of the biggest corruption loopholes, with inflated tenders and collusion between officials and private firms emerging as common patterns.

With the charges now approved, Wangamati and his co-accused are set to be arraigned in court. The case is expected to test Kenya’s resolve in prosecuting high-level corruption, a challenge that has historically seen lengthy trials and limited convictions.

Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Date: September 1, 2025