Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok has been arrested by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over an ongoing corruption probe by the Commission.
EACC in a statement on Thursday, February 6, confirmed that Governor Barchok has been placed in Police custody and escorted to the Commission’s South Rift Regional Offices in Nakuru for further processing.
The arrest is in connection with an ongoing investigation into allegations of conflict of interest and theft of public funds in the county amounting to Ksh1.4 million.
EACC detectives in Bomet County facilitated an operation that commenced Thursday morning, targeting various premises associated with the county boss, eight other Senior County Officials, and two contractors in Nairobi and Bomet Counties pursuant to court orders.
According to the anti-graft body, the operation yielded crucial evidentiary material that will aid in the finalization of the ongoing investigation.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirms that today, Thursday, 6th February, 2025, the Commission conducted a successful operation targeting Bomet Governor Hon. Hillary Kipng’eno Barchok, 8 other Senior County Officials and 2 contractors who are under investigation for conflict of interest and theft of public funds through fraudulent payment of KES 1,451,882,576/= to suppliers and contractors who are senior employees of the County Government of Bomet,” said EACC.
“The payments were made for works and services not rendered.”
EACC probe
Bomet county has been under investigation by the anti-graft body since last year over alleged fraudulent payments amounting to more than Ksh1.2 billion to companies reportedly owned by unnamed county officials.
Additionally, there were concerns over the improper procurement of road construction equipment worth Ksh373 million.
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The probe, which began on October 24, 2024, led to the arrest and questioning of senior county officials last year.
EACC detectives in November questioned eight Bomet County officials over alleged embezzlement of the billions in an operation targeting CECs, Chief Officers, and Senior County officers.
“The suspects have allegedly abused their positions of trust and authority to embezzle public funds through collusion, procurement fraud, and payments for non-existent or substandard services,” said EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi.
Last year, a section of lawmakers from Bomet pushed to have the county boss charged over alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds in the county.
Bomet leaders urge EACC to charge Governor Hillary Barchok
The legislators led by Senator Hillary Sigei singled out the mismanagement of various hospitals that allegedly led to the death of a three-year-old patient Ruth Chepngeno due to negligence at Longisa Hospital.
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The lawmakers called on EACC to take action against the governor and the County executive officers.
Senator Sigei decried the bad state of hospitals in the county with the death of the three-year-old patient showcasing the mismanagement of public hospitals.
“Bomet County is a hub of corruption. For the last three years nothing has been going on. We want to see heads rolling and action being taken against those engaging in mis- appropriation of funds,” said the first-time lawmaker.
“In Bomet county nothing is working. Bomet is in ICU in terms of development. There is nothing going on. People here are only paying for hot air, nothing else. As of now we are not interested in impeachment, we need action. If the governor is charged, then we will not need this impeachment thing.”
Bomet residents have also in the past come out in public to protest of Governor Barchok’s leadership.
In December last year, the residents openly heckled their governor in the presence of President William Ruto.
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