A defiant Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya mounted a political counter-offensive against President William Ruto, holding rallies in areas the head of state had visited hours earlier.
The governor accused Ruto of using development projects to gain political mileage ahead of the 2027 elections.
Natembeya stormed Kiminini shortly after Ruto left the area on Wednesday. He mobilised crowds to chant his popular Tawe Movement slogan and urged residents not to be swayed by what he termed tokenism disguised as development.
“When they go to other areas, they usually commission multibillion-shilling projects, but when it comes to our area, they bring small projects worth nothing,” Natembeya said.
He said his administration had built a major market in Kitale and the county assembly using county resources. He accused the President of taking credit for projects he had not funded.
“Let him commission the market and the other projects where he had no input, but we will erase anything to do with him after he leaves,” he said.
The confrontation came as Ruto was expected in Kitale town to commission two projects, deepening an increasingly public dispute over development, devolved services and the governor’s political movement.
At Kiminini, Ruto described the current opposition as the weakest Kenya had had since independence. He accused its leaders of relying on ethnic mobilisation rather than offering alternative ideas and policies.
“They have no alternative ideas or agenda. They fall back on ethnic mobilisation, hatred, divisiveness and anger,” he said.
Natembeya skipped Ruto’s tour of the county, setting the stage for a war of words that has increasingly centred on who deserves credit for development projects and who is responsible for shortcomings in public services.
During a tour of Endebess last Monday, Ruto accused the governor of obstructing national government projects.
He claimed funds were available to complete key facilities but that Natembeya’s politics stood in the way.
The President cited Endebess Hospital, where he said Sh240 million had been spent and another Sh100 million was needed to complete the project.
He also accused Natembeya of frustrating the development of Kenyatta Stadium in Kitale through what he described as the retrogressive politics of the Tawe Movement.
Ruto further accused the governor of promoting tribal and divisive politics, warning that such an approach was dangerous in a cosmopolitan county.
He also criticised healthcare in Trans Nzoia, alleging that the sector had deteriorated under Natembeya’s leadership. He likened Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital to Shakahola, citing what he described as high death rates.
The President also named potential challengers to Natembeya in the 2027 governor’s race, including Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau, former MP Chris Wamalwa and former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
He said the county needed leaders focused on development.
Natembeya, however, accused Ruto of taking credit for county-funded projects and using development initiatives to court voters ahead of the elections.
“Where has Ruto been for the last four years? Now he knows elections are nearby. That is why he has come here to launch small county projects that are not budgeted for. He wants to hoodwink our people,” he said.
The governor argued that health services and markets were devolved functions. He accused the President of disregarding the constitutional division of responsibilities between the national and county governments.
He also accused Ruto of playing tribal politics through development projects in the region and urged residents to remain firmly behind his leadership.
The exchange highlights growing political tensions in Trans Nzoia as leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with development projects, healthcare and the Tawe Movement becoming central points of contention.
Ruto is expected to return to the county for a third visit in a week to launch more development initiatives, setting the stage for a possible further confrontation with Natembeya.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Natembeya’s rallies hours after Ruto’s departure signal a deliberate effort to challenge the President’s political messaging in his backyard. The clash has turned development projects and devolved services into ammunition ahead of the 2027 elections. While Ruto questions the governor’s record and promotes potential challengers, Natembeya accuses the President of taking credit for county-funded projects. Their escalating feud risks overshadowing the development agenda both leaders claim to champion.
