Residents of Trans Nzoia county took to the streets of Kitale Town, Thursday, to celebrate the Court's decision to acquit Governor George Natembeya. The High Court quashed corruption charges against Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on March 4, 2026, ruling that his arrest and prosecution were unlawful and violated his constitutional rights.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye also awarded the governor KSh 2.5 million ($19,372) in general damages, citing procedural violations and abuse of legal process during the investigations and prosecution.
“The decision to charge the petitioner (Natembeya) when viewed holistically lacked a proper foundation,” Justice Mwamuye ruled.
Natembeya had been arrested in May 2025 following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into alleged financial irregularities linked to county projects worth about KSh 1.4 billion ($10.85 million).
The probe focused on three projects: the rehabilitation of Kenyatta Stadium, the construction of new county offices and the upgrade of Tom Mboya Hospital.
However, the High Court found serious procedural breaches during the investigation and arrest process.
Among the violations cited by the court was the refusal by EACC officers to allow the governor access to his lawyers at the time of arrest.
Justice Mwamuye also faulted how investigators obtained Natembeya’s mobile money statements, describing the process as irregular and unlawful.
“The respondent’s conduct of premature charging, reliance on post-factual evidence, denial of legal representation and publicising unverified allegations constitutes a clear abuse of power and malafides under Article 157(11),” the judge said.
The governor had challenged the legality of the charges through a constitutional petition after being arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.
He argued that the arrest, detention and evidence collection violated his constitutional rights.
The High Court agreed with the argument, declaring the criminal proceedings unconstitutional and an abuse of the legal process.
“A declaration be and is hereby issued that the institution and continuation of criminal proceedings in the Milimani Anti-Corruption Case of 2025 is an abuse of process, is unlawful, and is unconstitutional,” Justice Mwamuye ruled.
The court further barred the use of any evidence obtained through unlawful means and prohibited both the EACC and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) from pursuing the case again based on the same facts.
In addition to quashing the charges, the court ordered the government agencies involved to compensate Natembeya with KSh 2.5 million ($19,372) for the humiliation, distress and reputational damage he suffered.
The award will attract interest at court rates until it is fully paid, with legal costs also awarded to the governor.
Reacting to the ruling, residents filled the streets of Kitale Town, holding placards expressing their support for the county chief. Locals who spoke to Julisha Media, claimed that the case was a political witch-hunt to tarnish the name of Governor Natembeya.
"We are here to celebrate our Governor's win in Court. Natembeya has been delivering in Trans Nzoia, but his political opinions do not sit well with the powers that be. We are happy the court delivered justice" a Motorcycle rider in town told Julisha.co.ke
His remarks were echoed by several residents who had joined the peaceful procession.
The ruling brings to an end a high-profile case that began with dramatic scenes in May 2025 when EACC detectives raided Natembeya’s residence in Kitale, triggering protests from his supporters.
