State sidelining Trans Nzoia in projects, says Natembeya

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya (c) during opening of St Teresa Mother and Baby hospital

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has accused the national government of sidelining the county in the allocation of resources for key projects for political reasons.

Natembeya said the county was not benefiting from national government projects, unlike other regions. He said residents were taxpayers like other Kenyans and that his opposition politics should not be used to deny them their rights.

“We do not have any projects, such as roads or in other sectors, being funded by the national government simply because of my strong political stand. Being in the opposition is our right, as provided for in the constitution,” Natembeya said.

The governor said he was not ready to change his position or bow to anyone to beg for development resources.

Natembeya, an outspoken critic of President William Ruto, said he had nevertheless ensured county resources were well utilised to benefit residents.

He spoke while officially opening the St Teresa Mother and Baby Hospital, which was fully funded by the county at a cost of about Sh100 million.

Natembeya said he would continue with his Tawe Movement politics, which he said is aimed at liberating the region from bad politics and underdevelopment.

He accused the previous county administration, led by former governor Patrick Khaemba, of wasting public resources. He warned that the same Ford Kenya party leaders who had “messed up the country” were planning a comeback while portraying themselves as political saints.

“Let them know that our people are very alert and will not support selfish and wasteful leaders taking over,” he said.

Natembeya said more than Sh2 billion had been spent on the incomplete Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital in Kitale, yet the same amount could have been used to develop more than 10 hospitals in the region.

He warned residents to resist renewed attempts by powerful individuals to grab public land in Kitale, especially land belonging to Kenya Railways. He said the county has no space for expansion, and residents would fight off grabbers targeting public land.

“Let the grabbers know that Trans Nzoia is not available to them. Anyone scheming to grab our land will not be entertained here,” Natembeya said.

He added that the county has identified and marked all public assets, including land, to protect them from grabbers.