Natembeya protests over harrasment of residents during security operation

Governor George Natembeya speaks in Saboti, Trans Nzoia county /MATHEWS NDANYI

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has protested over what he termed 'arbitrary arrests of residents'.

Natembeya has accused the government of misusing the police service to settle political scores because of his stance against the Kenya Kwanza government.

The governor spoke following the arrest of more than 150 youths in the country whom police say are linked to goonism and insecurity in the region.

Natembeya said he was ready to put his life on the line to protect residents of Trans Nzoia who are being harrassed because of politics.

“If they want to look for votes, let them engage in politics openly and not use police to intimidate our people. That will not work.”

A week ago,the Interior CS visited the county where he accused Natembeya of blocking development by refusing to work with the national government.

“President (William) Ruto has been willing to work with the county on matters of development, but Natembeya has rejected development programmes for Trans Nzoia,” Murkomen said.

In response,the governor said he has no power or capacity to block the president from visiting the county for any kind of activity.

He said his political stand was part of his constitutional rights and it should not be used to intimidate innocent people in the county in a bid to silence those opposed to the Kenya Kwanza government.

“Our people will not be intimidated into silence, and Ruto should know that I am elected as governor the same way he was elected, and there is no way we will allow anyone to suspend the constitution.”

Natembeya, who spoke in Saboti, said being in the opposition was not criminal and that he would resist schemes by the government to unleash terror on his people to force them to submit to a “rogue regime".