Why we arrested Trans Nzoia officials - EACC

Journalists follow the drama outside Milimani Law Courts on June 3, 2025. /SCREENGRAB

EACC has confirmed that it arrested several senior members of Trans Nzoia County Government on Tuesday.

The arrest caused drama outside Milimani Law Courts during the hearing of a case against Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

Videos shared online showed men dressed in suits dragging one of the officials as another demanded to know why he was being arrested.

In a statement Tuesday evening, EACC said it carried out the arrests in liaison with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) "for obstructing EACC officers while executing a lawful court order."

The anti-graft agency said on May 19, 2025, EACC officers, armed with a court-issued search warrant, conducted a search operation at the residence of Governor George Natembeya in Kitale.

The commission said the operation was part of an investigation into alleged procurement irregularities, abuse of office, bribery, and acquisition of Sh1.46 billion during the 2022–2025 financial years.

"During the operation, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and senior county officials incited the public, resulting in the obstruction of officers, assault on law enforcement, and vandalism of five government vehicles valued at Sh12.1 million," EACC said in the statement.

The commission said following investigations by the DCI, 24 suspects were arrested and charged with various offences at Kitale Law Courts

It added that one more suspect was arrested on Monday while two more were arrested outside the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday.

"The three officials will be arraigned on June 4, 2025, at Kitale Law Courts," the commission said.

"EACC affirms that it will not tolerate obstruction of justice or destruction of public property in the execution of its lawful mandate," it added.

Governor Natembeya is facing three counts, including unlawful acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, and indirectly benefiting from public funds.

Natembeya was on May 20 released on a bond of Sh1 million with an alternative bail of Sh500,000.

The court set a total of 15 conditions he should abide by or risk being thrown into police custody.

These includes foreign travel ban unless permitted by the court and that he should not access his office.

During Tuesday's proceedings, the court ordered the prosecution to abide by earlier directions to supply the requisite documents it intends to rely on during the pendency of the case.

The court ordered the prosecution to disclose all relevant materials by June 16, 2025, when the matter will be mentioned.

“Those documents and statements ought to have been supplied by now... I therefore direct the prosecution to comply with the earlier orders,” the magistrate ruled.