Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has protested over the recent appointment of chiefs in the region, claiming they were picked from a single community.
He accused Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen of playing tribal politics with the critical role of chiefs, whom he said must be selected from all communities within a given area.
Natembeya questioned how nine chiefs appointed a week ago were all picked from one community, including in locations where that community forms a minority.
“We are not saying minorities should not get such jobs, but it is not possible that one community takes up all the positions across 10 locations that are highly cosmopolitan,” he said.
Natembeya said the chiefs would face challenges carrying out their administrative roles in communities where the majority of residents felt sidelined on tribal grounds.
The county boss, who spoke in Saboti, read out a list of the nine chiefs appointed last week, indicating that all of them were from one community.
Natembeya expressed regret that the same government officers who frequently talk about tribalism were practising it with impunity.
“It is the government perpetrating tribalism and that is why we are fighting to ensure the Kenya Kwanza regime does not get another chance to mess up our country,” he said.
The governor expressed fear the newly appointed chiefs would be biased in executing government functions and issuing critical documents such as national identity cards.
The county boss has continued to raise the alarm over the alleged issuance of ID cards to foreigners in areas along the Kenya–Uganda border.
Natembeya claimed the issuance was part of a scheme to have foreigners register as voters in the area ahead of next year’s general election.
The governor claimed chiefs were being used to facilitate the issuance of IDs to non-Kenyans along the border.
He said he had raised the matter with relevant administration officials and warned such a security breach would not be tolerated.
“We know it is part of a scheme to have foreigners cross the border so they come and elect leaders for us, but that will not happen at all costs,” he said.
His county borders Uganda, and Natembeya said residents would not allow strangers to participate in elections, even if they were issued with
“We will not allow any non-Kenyans to come here and participate in elections. They should not risk it because our people will not accept that nonsense,” he said.
The government has, however, denied allegations concerning the issuance of IDs to strangers.
