Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has hit out at the national government, accusing it of using anti-corruption institutions to silence dissenting voices.
Speaking to massive crowds in Kakamega, Bungoma, Kimilili, and Kitale just days after being arraigned on corruption charges, the outspoken county boss insisted his arrest was politically motivated, calling it retribution for his vocal criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.
Natembeya, who was charged with embezzling Kes3.2 million and released on bail, made a dramatic return to western Kenya where thousands of supporters brought traffic to a standstill along the busy Kitale–Bungoma highway, turning his homecoming into a political spectacle.
“I challenge the EACC. If there is a legitimate case, proceed. But if it’s a scheme, we know calls came from State House,” Natembeya claimed, alleging that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was acting on political orders.
Flanked by Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah, Natembeya accused state institutions of being weaponized to punish opposition figures and demanded the immediate release of youths arrested during protests in Kitale that followed his detention.
“The youth are rotting in cells. Hustlers, young men without parents—24 hours have passed and they’ve not been arraigned. Don’t they have rights?” he questioned.
In an assertive political shift, the Trans Nzoia governor also declared himself the new Luhya kingpin, taking aim at Western Kenya’s traditional political figures. He accused Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula of abandoning the region for personal political gain.
“When they ask how many people I have—I have the numbers from the Luhya community. We will now talk to other leaders to plan the future of Kenya,” Natembeya said to thunderous applause.
Despite being barred by the court from accessing his office for 60 days as part of his bail terms, Natembeya assured his supporters that he would continue serving them, vowing not to be cowed into silence.
His remarks come amid heightened political tension between county governments and the national executive. Governors across the country have recently decried what they describe as a double standard in oversight, with the national government accused of using institutions like EACC to target devolved units while shielding central authorities from scrutiny.
As the political tide swells in Western Kenya, Natembeya’s fiery rhetoric and show of popular support suggest a deepening rift in the region’s leadership—and possibly, a new power bloc in the making.
