Ex- Bungoma Governor Wangamati secures bail in KSh271M graft case

Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has secured bail after prosecutors charged him with a multimillion-shilling graft at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.
EACC detectives arrested Wangamati on Monday after he surrendered at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi. They held him at Kilimani Police Station overnight and produced him in court on Tuesday morning.
Prosecutors laid out 27 counts of corruption, accusing Wangamati of orchestrating fraudulent procurement between 2018 and 2021. He appeared alongside 11 co-accused, including former senior county officials and directors of construction firms.
Investigators say Wangamati and his allies used forged completion certificates and liability documents to secure county contracts worth hundreds of millions. They linked several firms to the scheme, including Valeria Construction, Nabwala Construction, Mundesi Contractors, and Skyman Freighters.
Prosecutors added that Nabwala Construction and its directors—Michael Wangamati and Barasa Wangamati—kept KSh 271 million in a Cooperative Bank account as proceeds of crime.
A Gavel. Image used to illustrate this story.PHOTO/Pexels
Bail and conditions
The court released Wangamati on a KSh 5 million bond or KSh 1.5 million cash bail. Magistrates ordered him to surrender his passport, avoid any contact with witnesses, and stop making public remarks about the trial.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not block the bail application but demanded strict terms to prevent interference with witnesses and to safeguard the case.
Implications for His Political Career
The corruption case threatens to derail Wangamati’s political ambitions. Although he lost his seat in 2022, he hinted at a comeback in Bungoma politics. These charges now cast a shadow over his credibility and may weaken his influence within Bungoma and Western Kenya’s political landscape.
Political analysts argue that the graft case could push rival politicians to distance themselves from Wangamati. His opponents are already framing the trial as proof of mismanagement during his administration. Should the court find him guilty, Wangamati risks not only heavy fines and jail time but also disqualification from holding public office in future elections.
At the same time, his supporters insist the case is politically motivated. They argue that the timing of the trial reflects efforts by rivals to block his return to elective politics ahead of 2027.
The court scheduled the case for mention on  18 September 2025. Lawyers will address pre-trial directions, and the prosecution is expected to outline its evidence.Wangamati has not issued a public statement since his arraignment.