Court releases ex-Bungoma governor Wangamati and his siblings on bail
A Nairobi anti-corruption court has released the former Bungoma County governor, Wycliffe Wafula Wangamati, with 18 other co-accused, including his siblings, on different cash bails and bonds.
The former county boss and his co-accused have been charged with different charges of engaging in fraudulent practice in procurement contrary to section 66(1) as read with section 177 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
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Wangamati is also accused of a conflict of interest contrary to section 42(3) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, CAP 65. It is said that he acquired Ksh10.5 million unlawfully.
Charges
The said lump sum of money is said to have been wired to his two siblings’ accounts through Valeria Construction Limited, money that was paid to her construction company by the Bungoma County government.
“Between May 20, 2020, and June 12, 2021, at an unknown place, being the governor of the County Government of Bungoma, through Nabwala Construction Limited, a company whose directors are Michael Wangamati and Edward Wangamati, who are your siblings, you knowingly acquired an indirect privy interest in the sum of Ksh10.5 million paid from Valeria Construction Limited from monies paid by the County Government of Bungoma to Valeria Construction Limited,” part of the charge sheet read.
Appearing before Milimani Anti-Corruption on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Zipporah Gichana, the 19 accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the 27 different charges lodged against them.
The defence team, led by Peter Wanyama, urged the court to release the accused persons on reasonable bail or bond.
However, the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) did not oppose the accused being released on bail or bond but urged the court to issue strict conditions if it decided to release them.
Magistrate Zipporah has released the former county boss together with Wakoli Wafula Chesititi and Bramwel Mukewa Wafula on a Ksh 1.5 million cash bail with an alternative of a Ksh 5 million bond.
“The first, sixth, and seventh accused persons (Wycliffe Wangamati, Wakole Wafula, and Brwamwel Wafula) have been released on a bond of Ksh 5 million or a cash bail of Ksh 1.5 million each,” Magistrate Gichana ruled.
Bail terms
Notably, the court has set the highest bail terms for the fourth accused person, Edward Maaya Makhanu, releasing him on a bond of Ksh10 million with an alternative of paying Ksh2.5 million cash bail.
The eighth accused person, Juma Swaleh Juma, has been released on a bond of Ksh 8 million, or he pays Ksh Ksh2 million cash bail.
Meanwhile, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh accused persons (Jimmy Barasa Wekesa, Christopher Makokha Masika, and Joseph Khaemba Wanyonyi) have been released on a bond of Ksh8 million with an alternative of paying a cash bail of Ksh250,000 each.
The court has also granted the second, third, and fifth accused persons (Michael Simiyu Wangamati, Edward Barasa Wangamati, and Sandra Nasambu Soita) a bond of Ksh1 million with an alternative of paying Ksh400,000 cash bail each.
The matter will be mentioned on September 18, 2025.
