Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has been dragged to court in a corruption case involving unlawful acquisition of public funds, glaring conflict of interest, and links to shady county contracts.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged Natembeya with grabbing Ksh 3,252,568, money siphoned from county payments to three companies—Lyma Agro Science Ltd, Maira Stores, and Easterly Winds Ltd—all of which conducted business with the Trans-Nzoia County Government during his tenure.
Between January 1, 2023, and April 30, 2025, the governor is alleged to have secretly benefited from deals with companies linked to his associates.
Court documents show that Natembeya received Ksh 1,127,900 from Mercy Chelangat, who owns both Lyma Agro Science Ltd and Maira Stores. He also pocketed another Ksh 2,124,668 from Emmanuel Wafula Masungo, the man behind Easterly Winds Ltd.
This is not just corruption. It’s abuse of office. It’s self-enrichment in broad daylight. And it happened while Natembeya was entrusted with public funds and the welfare of thousands of residents.
The DPP has slapped him with two counts of conflict of interest under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003.
Natembeya denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki and was released on a Ksh 1 million bond or a Ksh 500,000 cash bail.
But the court didn’t stop there.
Natembeya has been barred from accessing his office for 60 days.
He cannot leave the country without court approval.
He’s banned from contacting witnesses or commenting on the case in any public forum or media outlet.
The Prosecution, led by Assistant DPP Eliphas Ombati, Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti, and Prosecution Counsel Abdisalam Bore, has been ordered to present all documentary evidence by June 3, 2025, when the case resumes for pre-trial.
This is a governor now answering to criminal charges.
So the question remains—how deep does the rot go at the top of Trans-Nzoia County?
And will the justice system go all the way, or will this end like other high-level scandals—in silence?
This is a developing story.
