Court gavel./FILE
A scheduled plea-taking for Emmanuel Wafula Masungo, the Chief Officer for Finance in Trans Nzoia County, was on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, deferred after the court was informed that he was unwell and unable to attend proceedings.
Masungo is facing charges of conflict of interest and abuse of office.
He is accused of benefiting from irregular payments linked to a company in which he allegedly has a private stake.
According to the charge sheet, Masungo is alleged to have acquired a direct pecuniary interest amounting to Sh2,680,461 through Easterly Winds Limited—a private entity in which he is said to hold a personal stake and serves as the sole signatory.
The prosecution argues that this constitutes a conflict of interest and a breach of public trust.
His counterpart, Governor George Natembeya, was arraigned last week and charged with three counts of abuse of office and conflict of interest.
The charges relate to the alleged irregular acquisition and misappropriation of approximately Sh6.5 million in public funds.
His case is scheduled for hearing on June 3, 2025, at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.
When the matter was mentioned before Principal Magistrate Zipporah Gichana at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, Masungo was not in attendance.
His lawyer, Mr. Echesa, informed the court that his client was unwell and unable to participate in the proceedings. He submitted medical documents in support of the request to postpone the plea.
The court granted the request and deferred the plea-taking to June 16, 2025.
The magistrate further directed that the accused ensure his availability on the scheduled date unless exceptional circumstances arise.
Masungo and Natembeya are under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which is examining allegations of financial misconduct and procurement irregularities within the Trans Nzoia County Government.
These proceedings are part of a broader national effort to enhance accountability and transparency in county administrations
