Hillary Kipng'eno Barchok

Prof. Hillary Kipng'eno Barchok is a prominent Kenyan politician and academic who currently serves as the Governor of Bomet County. Originally a career academic, Barchok holds a PhD in Curriculum Development from Moi University and previously served as the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Resources Development at Chuka University. He transitioned into politics ahead of the 2017 general election, successfully running as the Deputy Governor under the late Joyce Laboso on a Jubilee Party ticket. Following Laboso's passing, Barchok assumed the office of Governor in August 2019 and was subsequently re-elected for a full second term in the August 2022 general elections under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) banner. As of 2026, his second term has been heavily defined by mounting legal and administrative challenges, including a one-month prison sentence for contempt of court regarding the unlawful dismissal of over 300 county employees, severe corruption and money-laundering allegations brought by the EACC, and a Parliamentary Budget Office assessment that placed Bomet among the poorest-performing counties for fiscal management.