Fresh protests emerged in Kitale town late yesterday with youth demanding the immediate release of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya who had been arrested by Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) officers over allegations of embezzling KES 1.4 billion of county funds.
Earlier in the morning crowds barricaded Natembeya’s gated Milimani home, blocking regular police and EACC officers who had come to arrest the Governor. The crowds had a leak on the impending arrest and arrived before the officers at the residence.
During the dramatic standoff an officer who was carrying a suspicious-looking case was denied entry into the residence and had to return the case into the police vehicle before entry was granted. The hawkeyed civilians claimed the government was trying to plant evidence on Natembeya.
The situation got out of hand, however, when rowdy youth unleashed violence and in the altercation engaged the police officers. The police beefed up their presence with the arrival of more armed and masked personnel in plainclothes.
“A heavy contingent of police officers in plain clothes, well-masked, have gained access to Natembeya’s Milimani home in Kitale. Such Moi tactics won’t work in current times,” the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) said in a statement.
A vehicle belonging to the governor was damaged, ostensibly, when the police begun hurling teargas cannisters. Two local journalists, Evans Jaola of the Daily Nation and Osinde Obare of The Standard, were also injured in the melee when they attempted to take photos of the damaged vehicle. Jaola sustained injuries to his left hand, had his shirt torn, and his phone was snatched by the angry crowd.
Eventually the EACC officers managed to arrest the Governor and in the process protests spilt into Kitale town.
By the time of going to press, Natembeya’s lawyer Ndegwa Njiru confirmed that the Governor had been moved to the EACC headquarters in Nairobi for questioning, but was denied access to his legal team.
“They have locked in our client, but we are not able to access him or give him any legal counsel on the process that is currently being undertaken,” Njiru stated.
According to the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission Natembeya is being investigated over alleged procurement irregularities, abuse of office and bribery tied to three major projects during the 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 Financial Years.
The projects in question are construction of the Tom Mboya Hospital, construction of the County Headquarters and Kenyatta Stadium (Phase 1A).
“The Governor is alleged to have influenced the award of tenders and received kickbacks from contractors through proxies,” said the Commission in a statement signed by Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud.
Meanwhile, the DAP-K Party in a statement issued last night said Natembeya had been arrested over his people-centric stance under the TAWE philosophy.
The Governor is a strong critic of the government and it’s easy to tie-in the claims of corruption with a witch-hunt.
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