NAIROBI, Kenya – The High Court has rejected an attempt by Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok to stop his impending prosecution over corruption allegations.
Barchok had filed an urgent petition seeking to bar the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) from charging him after DPP Renson Ingonga last week approved graft-related charges against the governor and several other senior officials.
Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) flagged alleged procurement fraud, conflict of interest, and misappropriation of public funds in Bomet County operations.
According to the ODPP, companies linked to the governor received payments from the county government between the 2019/20 and 2025 financial years.
Barchok is expected to face charges of conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye, in a ruling delivered on Monday, directed Barchok to serve his petition on the EACC in both soft and hard copy by September 2.
The EACC has until September 19 to file its response before the matter is mentioned on October 7 for further directions.
According to investigators, Governor Barchok unlawfully received Sh2.75 million from companies trading with the Bomet County government between the 2019/2020 and 2024/2025 financial years.
The EACC recommended charges against him alongside Evans Kipkoech Korir, director of Chemasus Construction Limited.
“Upon thorough review, I have directed that Governor Hillary Kipngeno Barchok be charged with conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property,” the DPP stated.
The ODPP further announced that Barchok, Korir, and Chemasus Construction Limited will also face charges of acquiring proceeds of crime under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2009.
The case marks another test of the government’s renewed anti-graft drive, with President William Ruto recently reiterating his administration’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for corruption.
