The High Court has declined to grant orders sought by Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok to block his arrest and prosecution, clearing the path for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to proceed with graft charges.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye rejected the governor’s bid to obtain interim protection, directing that the petition be served on the EACC and other respondents for a full hearing on September 7, 2025.
Governor Barchok had rushed to court seeking to stop his impending arrest, arguing that the allegations against him were “baseless, malicious, and politically instigated.” He maintains that the Ksh 2.75 million he received from Chemasus Construction Limited was legitimate lease income, unrelated to any county contracts or conflict of interest.
The EACC, however, accuses the governor of conflict of interest, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and unlawful acquisition of public property between the 2019/20 and 2024/25 financial years. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has already consented to his arrest and arraignment alongside Evans Kipkoech Korir, director of Chemasus Construction Limited.
The ruling means investigators are free to act pending the full hearing, marking a significant step in a widening anti-graft dragnet targeting senior county officials. The case will return to court on September 7 for mention, when the judge will determine how it proceeds.
This decision underscores the judiciary’s insistence that corruption cases must follow due process rather than being blocked at inception, signaling tougher days ahead for county bosses under scrutiny.
