The Rise and Fall of Former Bungoma Governor: Charged With Sh 70M Fraud
Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has appeared in an Anti-Corruption Court, where he pleaded not guilty to a series of charges against him.
The allegations include engaging in fraudulent procurement practices, the acquisition and use of proceeds from criminal activities, and conflicts of interest. Wangamati is facing these charges alongside 18 co-defendants, all of whom have denied a total of 25 counts presented before Principal Magistrate Zipporah W. Gichana.
The group is accused of receiving substantial sums of money from various counties across Kenya, including Kwale, Mombasa, Taita Taveta, Igembe, Meru, and Kisumu, during the period from 2018 to 2021. Among the specific charges against the former governor is the claim that he received 19.5 million shillings.
In light of these serious allegations, the court has mandated that Wangamati post a cash bail of 1.5 million shillings or provide an alternative bond of 1 million shillings to secure his release while awaiting trial. The other defendants have been assigned varying bail amounts, ranging from 400,000 to 2.5 million shillings, reflecting the different circumstances of each case.
The defense, represented by lawyer Brian Khaemba, emphasized that many of the accused are family members, including two of Wangamati’s brothers. The court has also issued directives concerning the handling of the case, instructing all accused individuals who possess passports to surrender them to the court.
Furthermore, the trial magistrate has prohibited the defendants from making any public comments regarding the ongoing proceedings or attempting to interfere with prosecution witnesses. The prosecution is required to provide all relevant documentary evidence to the defense counsel. The case is scheduled for a pre-trial mention on September 18, where further developments are expected to unfold.
