A Nairobi court has directed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to hand over all evidence it intends to use in the corruption case against Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
The order came after the prosecution admitted it had not complied with an earlier directive to disclose key documents and witness statements to the defence.
State Counsel Victor Awiti, representing the ODPP, asked the court for a two-week extension. He explained that the prosecution was struggling to access some documents from Trans Nzoia County government offices.
“Most of the documents are to be obtained from Trans Nzoia County, and we have been unable to access them. We are requesting an additional two weeks to comply,” Awiti told the court.
The defence strongly opposed the request, calling it a misuse of judicial process.
“Why would they visit the county offices without informing us, so that our legal team could be present? Now they are asking for more time. That is not how the criminal justice system operates—you do not charge someone first, then begin looking for evidence,” the defence argued. “We strongly oppose the application for an extension of time.”
After considering both arguments, the court denied the request and gave the prosecution until June 16, 2025, to provide all relevant materials. The case will be mentioned on the same date.
“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.
Natembeya Staff Members Forcefully Arrested
Governor Natembeya is facing three charges: unlawful acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, and indirectly benefiting from public funds.
Tensions flared after the hearing as plainclothes officers arrested several members believed to be Trans Nzoia County staff members.
The Eugene Wamalwa-led DAP-K party released a statement naming those arrested as Sinyereri Ward MCA John Chigi Makhanu, Governor Natembeya’s personal assistant Emmanuel Wanjala, Director of Communications Felix Sialo, Nawiri Programme Chairman Martin Waliula, and Protocol Officer Dean Frank.
According to the statement, plainclothes officers seized the individuals and forced them into unmarked Subaru vehicles right in front of police officers stationed at the court. Shockingly, the police did not intervene or respond to the arrests.
A video shared by DAP-K on their X platform appears to capture the forceful arrests of people identified as staff members of the Trans Nzoia County Government.
Officers from Transnzoia county being forcefully abducted outside Milimani Law Courts this morning when they accampanied Governor Natembeya for hearing of his case. pic.twitter.com/tGVKfKOlDY
— DAP-K Party (@DAP_Kenya) June 3, 2025
