Bomet senator backs ongoing purge against county bosses over graft
By Kiprono Keileb, September 2, 2025Bomet County senator Wakili Hillary Sigei has sounded an alarm over the rising cases of corruption within county governments, saying the vice is one of the biggest challenges to Kenya’s development.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 2, 2025, during a political talk show aired by a local television station, he noted that the problem is not confined to the national government, but has become deeply entrenched in the devolved units
“One of our biggest development challenges is corruption. It is not only limited to the national government; it is rampant in county governments,” he said.
According to Sigei, the number of governors facing charges is proof that corruption in devolved units is a serious problem. He pointed out that the prosecution of sitting and former governors is evidence that investigative agencies are tackling real cases.
“Many governors are now being processed. Governor Hillary Barchok and former Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati will be taking a plea today, which tells you there is a problem, because it can’t be that ODPP, EACC and other investigative agencies are fighting something that doesn’t exist,” he stated.
The statement comes on the same day that Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati are expected to take a plea in court over graft-related charges.
Sigei emphasised that most corruption cases in counties emerge from questionable procurement deals.
“The reasons why some of these governors are being investigated is because of procurement processes. When you are charged with a conflict of interest, it means it developed out of a transaction that happens in the course of procurement,” he explained.
Investigative agencies under pressure
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and other agencies have in recent months intensified investigations into county executives. The cases involving Barchok and Wangamati are part of a wider crackdown on mismanagement of public funds in counties.
The prosecutions are expected to test the government’s resolve in fighting graft, especially in devolved units where billions of shillings are allocated annually for development.
The high-profile arraignment of governors underscores growing public frustration with corruption and misuse of resources meant for service delivery. Kenyans have repeatedly demanded accountability from county leaders, arguing that devolution will only succeed if resources are used transparently and for the benefit of ordinary citizens.