The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has defended the dramatic arrest of senior Trans Nzoia County officials outside the Milimani Law Courts, stating the move was part of a lawful operation to apprehend individuals accused of obstructing justice during a corruption probe involving Governor George Natembeya.
Videos widely shared online on June 3, 2025, showed plainclothes officers dragging a man in a suit outside the Milimani court entrance, as another shouted in protest. The footage sparked public speculation and criticism over the timing and setting of the arrest.
In a statement issued the same evening, EACC clarified that the arrests were not random, but the result of ongoing investigations into a May 19 incident where EACC officers executing a court-issued search warrant at Governor Natembeya’s Kitale residence were violently obstructed by county officials and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in liaison with Police Officers from the Integrity Police Station, arrested senior public officials for obstructing EACC officers while executing a lawful court order,” the Commission said.
Why Milimani?
The EACC confirmed that the two individuals arrested at Milimani Law Courts—Hon. John Chigi Makhanu (MCA, Sinyerere Ward) and Frank Kuyala Wabwire (Governor’s Protocol Officer)—had been under active investigation, and their arrest was timely, given their presence in Nairobi for Governor Natembeya’s court appearance.
The Commission added that a third suspect, Hon. Bernard Muganda, a former MCA for Motosiet Ward, had been arrested a day earlier.
“The three officials were apprehended following investigations into the May 19 obstruction. Their arrest location was determined by proximity and opportunity—not spectacle,” said an EACC source familiar with the operation.
The suspects are set to be arraigned on June 4, 2025, at the Kitale Law Courts, where they will face charges related to obstruction of justice, incitement, and destruction of public property.
Background: The Kitale Operation
The arrests stem from an earlier incident on May 19, when EACC officers—armed with a court warrant—attempted a search at Governor Natembeya’s residence as part of an investigation into the fraudulent acquisition of Ksh 1.46 billion between 2022 and 2025.
The operation was violently disrupted, with MCAs and county officials allegedly inciting residents, resulting in:
- Assaults on law enforcement officers
- Obstruction of justice
- Vandalism of five government vehicles worth Ksh 12.1 million
So far, 24 suspects have been charged at the Kitale Law Courts, with more arrests expected.
Governor Natembeya’s Legal Troubles
Governor George Natembeya, currently out on Ksh 1 million bond (or Ksh 500,000 cash bail), faces three counts:
- Unlawful acquisition of public property
- Conflict of interest
- Indirect benefit from public funds
The court imposed 15 strict bail conditions, including a foreign travel ban and restricted access to his office.
During his June 3 court session, the magistrate directed the prosecution to submit all case documents by June 16, criticizing delays in disclosure.
“Those documents and statements ought to have been supplied by now… I therefore direct the prosecution to comply with the earlier orders,” ruled the magistrate.
EACC’s Warning
In its statement, EACC warned that any interference with anti-corruption investigations will be met with full legal force.
“EACC affirms that it will not tolerate obstruction of justice or destruction of public property in the execution of its lawful mandate,” the agency declared.
