Governor George Natembeya speaking in Kitale townNatembeya claimed that all the five opponents eyeing his seat were sponsored by the government and funded to mislead residents into electing one of them.
The governor, however, said no matter how much money his rivals would spend, none of them had the capacity to remove him.
“The people of Trans Nzoia know very well that all those eyeing the governor seat now have been sent to confuse them. They can make noise all over, but none of them will be acceptable by the people of Trans Nzoia," Natembeya, who spoke during a meeting in Kitale, said.
The number of aspirants eying the Trans Nzoia governor seat in the 2027 election is growing after a second woman recently joined the race.
Prominent businesswoman Dorcas Njenga is the second female aspirant after former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
"I will be in the race to lead Trans Nzoia, and I have the full support of the Jubilee Party. I am ready and set to face my opponents at the ballot," Njenga said.
She has promised to transform the county into an agro-industrial region if elected.
Njenga and Nakhumicha will face Governor Natembeya in the 2027 contest. Also in the running are former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa and current Kiminini lawmaker Maurice Bisau.
Wamalwa ran against Natembeya and lost in 2022.
With about eight months to the party primaries early next year, the aspirants have stepped up their grassroots campaigns, with each of them vowing to unseat Natembeya.
The governor has already declared that he will be defending his seat in next year’s general election.
Natembeya insists that his wish is to complete all projects he has initiated in the region and realise his vision of eliminating poverty and disease, among other challenges affecting residents.
"We agreed with my brother Edwin Sifuna that he goes for the presidency as I take care of Trans Nzoia and western Kenya,” he said.
The county has in the recent past witnessed increased political activities by gubernatorial aspirants.
The opponents have accused Natembeya of focusing on politics without delivering tangible development since he was elected.
