Natembeya freed on Sh500,000 bail, barred from office for 2 months

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was on Tuesday freed on a bond of Sh1 million with an alternative bail of Sh500,000 after charges of corruption.

Nairobi Anti-Corruption principal magistrate Charles Ondieki however barred the governor from accessing his office for a period of 60 days.

The court aso directed Nayembeya not to travel out of the country unless permitted by the court.
The governor was also ordered not to discuss the case in public.

The court set for Natembeya 15 conditions that he must abide by or risk being thrown into remand.

“Any breach of the conditions shall attract attendant consequences including cancellation of bond or bail,” the magistrate said.

Natembeya was earlier charged with three counts of graft, including acquisition of public property through conflict of interest.

Natembeya who was arrested on Monday was charged before a Nairobi Anti-Corruption chief magistrate court.

The charge sheet stated that Natembeya being the governor of Trans Nzoia, acquired Sh1.2 million from Mercy Chelangat, the director of Lyma Agro Science Limited and the proprietor of Maria Stores that had traded with the county government.

The governor faced a second count of acquiring Sh2.1 million from Emmanuel Wafula Masungo who is the beneficial owner of Easterly Winds Limited that traded with the county government.

Natembeya was also charged with acquiring another Sh3.2 million from Mercy Chelangat, being part of the funds paid to her companies by the Trans Nzoia county government which she traded with.

Natembeya pleaded not guilty to all the charges.