Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has claimed President William Ruto is targeting him for speaking the truth, escalating their political feud over the planned upgrade of Kitale Level 5 Hospital.
Natembeya said his disagreement with the President stemmed from what he described as disregard for the Constitution and the role of county governments in managing devolved functions.
Speaking amid the dispute over the hospital upgrade, the governor said he had advised the national government to invest in a university instead of taking over projects that fall under the county government.
“They came, and I told them we have three hospitals in Trans Nzoia, and I said instead of fighting for county projects, if you have funds, build a university because that is what we need,” Natembeya said.
He claimed that he had declined to endorse the proposed hospital intervention after urging the national government to consider other development priorities for the county.
Natembeya further claimed Ruto was fighting him because he had chosen to speak openly about issues affecting the country, warning that he would not be intimidated by the ongoing political confrontation.
“Ruto is fighting me because I speak the truth. Before he gets to you, he will have to have finished me,” he said.
The dispute intensified during the President’s development tour of Trans Nzoia in mid-October, when Ruto launched the proposed upgrade of Kitale Level 5 Hospital and accused the governor of failing to support the project.
The President defended the national government’s intervention, presenting the hospital upgrade as part of efforts to improve healthcare services in the region.
However, Natembeya argued that the dispute raised broader questions about the constitutional boundaries between the two levels of government.
“I tell the President, we must respect the Constitution. Let governors do what the Constitution says they should do,” he said.
The governor also appealed to the military, which is involved in the hospital upgrade, to avoid being drawn into the political disagreement between him and the Head of State.
“And I want to tell the military, this is a squabble between Ruto and Natembeya. Don’t get engaged in civilian squabbles,” he said, insisting that all parties must operate within the law.
Natembeya also pointed out that the President had commissioned a market he said was built by the county government, raising concerns over recognition of development projects undertaken by devolved units.
The disagreement comes amid renewed political tensions between the two leaders, with the hospital project emerging as a flashpoint in the debate over county autonomy, national government intervention and the delivery of public services.
