Governor In Hot Soup Over Ksh.450 Million Extortion Claim
A case has been filed in the High Court questioning Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa’s actions regarding an alleged Ksh.450 million extortion charge.
The petitioner seeks declarations that the governor breached the constitutional norms of transparency, accountability, and leadership integrity.
Stephen Otieno, a Kakamega County citizen, claims in his petition that he moved to court in the public interest under Articles 3, 22, and 258 of the Constitution.
Otieno expresses rising anxiety over the governor’s handling of a criminal complaint in which he alleges he was extorted Ksh.450 million.
A petition has been filed against Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa over an alleged KSh450 million extortion case, with claims that he violated constitutional principles of transparency and accountability.#Mutongoidigital pic.twitter.com/xbZQlxVv7e— Mutongoi TV/Mutongoi FM (@mutongoitvke) May 26, 2026
According to court papers, the petitioner says he learnt through media reports and public court records that Governor Barasa had initiated criminal proceedings at the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kibera Law Courts.
The Criminal Cases include No. E988 of 2024, Republic versus Rashid Echesa Mohammed and Joseph Lendrix Waswa, and Criminal Case No. E731 of 2024, Republic versus William Simiyu Matere.
The governor is said to have alleged in those proceedings that the accused persons conspired to extort Ksh.450 million from him.
The petitioner, however, argues that despite pursuing the criminal complaint, the governor allegedly failed to produce bank statements, tax compliance records or any financial documentation to verify the existence or lawful source of the funds.
He further claims recent media reports indicate that after pressure mounted over the need to disclose financial records, the governor allegedly moved to withdraw the criminal proceedings under Section 87(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The petitioner argues the move was intended to shield the matter from judicial scrutiny and prevent disclosure of financial records.
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“As a taxpayer and resident of Kakamega County, the petitioner is apprehensive that unresolved questions involving hundreds of millions of shillings and the absence of a verifiable financial trail raise serious public interest concerns on accountability and the integrity of county leadership,” the court documents state.
The petition contends that the alleged failure to provide supporting records amounts to a breach of Articles 10, 73 and 75 of the Constitution, as well as provisions of the Leadership and Integrity Act, the Access to Information Act and the County Governments Act.
Among the orders sought, the petitioner wants the court to declare that the governor’s continued failure to provide financial records relating to the alleged Ksh.450 million violates constitutional principles on transparency and public finance.
He is also seeking declarations that the alleged withdrawal of the criminal cases was done in bad faith to evade scrutiny, and that withholding financial records infringed on citizens’ rights to access information and participate in public oversight.
The petitioner has further asked the court to find that the governor is unfit to continue holding public office under Chapter Six of the Constitution, and wants the costs of the petition awarded personally against the governor.
Governor In Hot Soup Over Ksh.450 Million Extortion Claim
