Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki was on Wednesday barred from accessing his office after the court granted him Sh6 million cash bail or Sh10 million bond.
The county boss and his co-accused were also ordered to deposit their passports with the court and to remain within court's jurisdiction unless granted permission to travel.
Before the bail terms were issued, there was drama after journalists were barred from covering the proceedings with security officials saying there were under firm instructions to block the media from entering the court.
The journalists had to force their way past the security officers to cover the proceedings.
Njuki and 16 others were on Tuesday, September 8, charged with graft over the embezzlement of Sh34 million of county funds through an irregular tender for a solid waste incinerator.
According to the prosecution, the theft occurred between January 2018 and September 2018 at the county government offices.
The 17 suspects were charged with varying offences, ranging from abuse of office, conspiracy to commit a felony, conflict of interest to failure to comply with procurement law.
