Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya addresses residents of Luanda. Photo: Natembeya Mashinani Facebook.
Days after what his supporters termed as political intimidation, Trans Nzoia governor has said that the unity of the Luhya community is threatening the political class in the country.
Natembeya while addressing the residents of Luanda, said that his arrest was because of his calls to unity the community, and ensure that as a community they have a bargaining power in the 2027 general elections, and for the community to achieve that, they must have a plan.
“All these happening is because I’m standing with common mwananchi! Sisi tumesema lazima tujipange. There are people who are getting annoyed because of Luhya unity, they do not want a Luhya to make progress. I have said that a Luhya must seat at the bargaining table come whatever may. As a community we are strategizing ourselves from 2027 going forward,” Natembeya remarked.
He said that the region has been clamped by unending poverty, with the recent move by the Kenya Kwanza government to lease Nzoia Sugar Company for 30 years to Indian national and investor Jayesh Rai, killing development in the region.
“Our region has been clamped by high levels of poverty, our companies have collapsed, including Mumias and Nzoia. Everything has collapsed, and our people are out here doing degrading manual jobs as watchmen and farm labourers. This is what I’m fighting against, to ensure our people are empoered and rescued from poverty,” he further explained.
Natembeya has in several occasions faulted National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for failing to champion for the development of the region, despite being in government for a long time.
He has called for a time when the Luhya community should discard their belief on the two leaders, and focus on eradicating poverty to have a political bargaining power in the national politics, as they will have a financial muscle as their counterparts in the Mt. Kenya region.
The move under Tawe Movement he champions, has put him on the edge with Wetang’ula and Mudavadi, who asked him to slow down on the political arena, and further leading to his troubles with the Kenya Kwanza government.
Natembeya is currently facing allegations of irregular procurement according to EACC, in three key development projects in the county including Tom Mboya Mother Baby Hospital, Phase 2 of Kenyatta Stadium Construction, and the new county Headquarters under construction amounting to KSh 1.4 billion.
