Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a series of corruption charges involving over Sh 6 million in allegedly irregular payments linked to county contracts.
The embattled county chief appeared before Magistrate C.N. Ondieki at the Anti-Corruption Court following his overnight detention at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices.
According to the charge sheet, Governor Natembeya is facing three key charges: unlawful acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, and indirect benefit from public funds.
Prosecutors allege that between January 1, 2023, and April 30, 2025, he improperly benefited from payments made by the County Government of Trans Nzoia to entities allegedly associated with him.
Central to the case is the claim that Natembeya received Sh 3,252,568 through transactions involving Lyma Agro Science, Maira Store, and Easterly Winds Limited companies said to be linked to him.
One of the alleged associates is Mercy Chelangat, director of Lyma Agro Science and proprietor of Maira Store, both of which reportedly had active contracts with the county.
During the court session, State Prosecutor Alex Akhula opposed Natembeya’s bail application, citing fears of witness tampering and obstruction of justice.
“There are compelling reasons to deny bail, including the likelihood of tampering with evidence, witness intimidation, and concerns over public safety,” Akhula stated. He also pointed to a recent incident involving vandalized EACC vehicles, during which crucial documents reportedly went missing, raising concerns about compromised evidence.
Akhula further argued that most of the witnesses are junior employees within the county government and remain vulnerable to potential pressure or influence should the governor be released.
However, Natembeya’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Njeru, dismissed the prosecution’s claims as speculative and politically charged.
“The affidavit presented by the state lacks credible evidence. These allegations are part of a broader political witch-hunt meant to intimidate opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections,” Njeru told the court. He urged the court to reject what he called “baseless accusations” and grant the governor bail.
The court is expected to rule on the bail application later this week. Meanwhile, the case has drawn significant national attention, with implications for both county governance and the broader political landscape.
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