High Court suspends graft case against Trans Nzoia Governor Natembeya

In the ruling, Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed the governor's legal team to serve the Director of Criminal Investigations and ODPP, who in turn are required to file their responses by June 20, 2025. If need be, the governor can file a response by June 27, 2025. 

The case will be mentioned on June 30, 2025, when Justice Mwamuye will provide further directions on the determination of the petition. 

According to court documents, the ODPP alleges that the governor indirectly benefited from payments amounting to Ksh.3.2 million from firms that had business dealings with the county government between January 2023 and April 2025. 

The prosecution contends that Natembeya acquired an indirect pecuniary interest of Ksh.1,127,900 from Mercy Chelangat—the director of Lyma Agro Science and proprietor of Maira Stores—and a further Ksh.2,124,668 from Emmanuel Wafula Masungo, the beneficial owner of Easterly Winds Limited.

In total, the governor faces three counts: unlawful acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, and indirectly benefiting from public funds.

During a court appearance on May 20, 2025, Governor Natembeya pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was subsequently released on a Ksh.1 million bond or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.500,000.